Manchester City’s Premier League title dreams were snuffed out on the south coast on Tuesday with a heartbreaking 1-1 draw against Bournemouth that gave Arsenal an unassailable lead at the top and their first league trophy after a 22-year wait.
Needing a win to keep the race alive ahead of Sunday’s season finale, City were undone by Eli Junior Kroupi’s brilliant first-half strike at the Vitality Stadium, ending City’s hopes of a seventh league title for Pep Guardiola in what was expected to be his final season after a glittering decade as manager.
The draw puts City on 78 points, four behind Arsenal. Bournemouth – unbeaten in 17 league games and sixth with 56 points – secured European qualification for the first time.
Kroupi fired Bournemouth ahead in the 39th minute when Adrien Truffert was played through from the left, and he picked out the 19-year-old Frenchman, who took a touch before unleashing a superbly curved shot just inside the far post past Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was on the spot.
City’s Erling Haaland pulled one back deep into stoppage time when Rodri’s shot bounced off the post and fell to the Norwegian, but the final whistle blew seconds later to seal City’s fate.
Bournemouth vs Manchester City player ratings:
AFC Bournemouth: Djordje Petrović (7.4/10), Adam Smith (6.2/10), James Hill (6.6/10), Marcos Senesi (7.2/10), Adrien Truffert (7.8/10), Tyler Adams (6.4/10), Alex Scott (6.7/10), Marcus Tavernier (7.3/10), Rayan (6.5/10), Eli Junior Kroupi (8.2/10), Evans (6.0/10)
Subs: Justin Kluivert (6.1/10), David Brooks (6.2/10), Enes Ünal (5.9/10), Lewis Cook (6.0/10)
Manchester City: Gianluigi Donnarumma (7.0/10), Matheus Nunes (7.3/10), Abdukodir Khusanov (6.9/10), Marc Guéhi (6.4/10), Nico O’Reilly (6.9/10), Rodri (8.3/10), Antoine Semenyo (6.7/10), Mateo Kovačić (6.5/10), Bernardo Silva. (6.4/10), Jérémy Doku (6.8/10), Erling Haaland (7.9/10)
Subs: Rayan Cherki (6.3/10), Phil Foden (6.4/10), Savinho (7.0/10), Omar Marmoush (6.2/10)
(with input from agencies)
Published on May 20, 2026
