Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on November 2, 2025, wasn’t just another box ticked in their Premier League campaign; it was a quiet statement of authority. This wasn’t the usual Pep Guardiola side suffocating their opponents with endless possession. No, this was City playing smart, calm football and showing that control doesn’t always come from the ball itself, but from how you use it.
In an unusual twist that had fans reacting after the encounter, Softfootball reports that City finished the match with only 48% possession, conceding the territorial edge to Bournemouth’s 52%. But that statistic didn’t tell the story. Pep’s men operated with a poise and efficiency that bordered on clinical. Bournemouth, under Unai Iraola, came with intent, pressing high, pushing City’s build-up to the limit, and refusing to sit back. Yet, the home side seemed unfazed, soaking up pressure like they’d seen it all before.
At the heart of it was Nico Gonzalez, the 23-year-old Spanish maestro who ran the midfield with rare composure. His 90% passing accuracy and seven key passes into the final third turned pressure into poise. Every touch from him looked like a decision: when to quicken play, when to hold it, and when to break lines. It was control, disguised as calmness.
Josko Gvardiol’s Tackle on Antoine Semeyo in a video uploaded by Manchester City via their official X account sums up the mentality of the team, and it proves they can go down and dirty when the need arises.
Watch the video below:
City might’ve had less of the ball, but they made every touch count. They registered nine corners to Bournemouth’s four and completed dribbles at a higher rate, 50% compared to their opponent’s 38%. That edge in efficiency was enough to tilt the balance. Erling Haaland did what he does best, pouncing twice before halftime, his finishing as cold and sharp as ever, what you expect from your number 9 when playing this system.
Bournemouth clawed one back early in the second half, but City didn’t flinch. The rhythm never broke. They managed the game with a veteran’s nerve, waited for their chance, and sealed the win with a third goal that summed up their night: disciplined, deliberate, and deadly.
It wasn’t about fireworks or fancy stats this time. It was about City proving that dominance isn’t always about possession; sometimes, it’s about patience, precision, and pure control.
