Fulham vs Manchester City; Premier League
Fulham vs Manchester City. Premier League.
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Fulham 0-2 Man City: Ilkay Gundogan and Erling Haaland secure third place in Premier League and Champions League spot
Report and free match highlights as Man City secure third place and Champions League spot with victory at Fulham; Ilkay Gundogan scores stunning overhead kick in first half; Erling Haaland rolls in second-half penalty; Kevin De Bruyne makes final Man City appearance as late substitute
Monday 26 May 2025 06:37, UK
Manchester City finished third in the Premier League and qualified for next season’s Champions League with a 2-0 victory over Fulham.
Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench to make his final appearance for City but Jack Grealish was left out of the squad amid speculation he might depart the club this summer. Pep Guardiola said it was due to "selection" and "nothing personal".
Ilkay Gundogan improvised brilliantly in the six-yard box during the first half, after Matheus Nunes' effort was saved, adjusting quickly to send an overhead kick in off the underside of the crossbar to give City a deserved lead.
Erling Haaland then doubled their advantage in the 72nd minute from the penalty spot after Gundogan was fouled. Omar Marmoush was on the pitch at the time but wasn't handed the ball by Ruben Dias after his FA Cup final miss.
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City didn't have it all their own way having dominated the opening 25 minutes. Ederson was forced to save twice from Harry Wilson while Tom Cairney, on what might have been his final Fulham appearance, curled narrowly wide.
Fulham pushed to the end, forcing Ederson into action again before Raul Jimenez sent an overhead kick just over as their record-breaking season ended in disappointment, slipping to 11th place.
Despite victory, Guardiola has seen his team finish outside of the top two for only the second time in his 16 seasons as a top-flight manager, along with the 2016/17 Premier League season when Man City also finished third.
Guardiola: CL qualification is like a title
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said:
"We started really well. It was in our hands and we did our job. It's been a tough year but we never gave up. If that had happened, we wouldn't be in that position. I'm very proud and pleased for the team.
On qualifying for the Champions League: "It's like a title. The obstacles, if you don't continue, you finish 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th. I promise you.
"This is the destiny of all the teams when they are in November, December, January, when they cannot fight for the Premier League like they have done for many years, the people say 'I don't want to fight again to just qualify for the Europa League'.
"We continued and continued. Playing good, bad, it didn't matter we were there. And in the end, we did it. We finished third and not miles away from Arsenal who are a top side. The distance to Liverpool is huge and we have to improve. Hopefully, we can do it."
Silva: I expect to be at Fulham next season
Fulham boss Marco Silva said:
"Definitely not the way we wanted to end the season at all. It was again clear that we were not clinical at all and we were not ruthless.
"It was a great season. It hurts a little bit to not finish in the top half of the table.
On staying at Fulham: "I'm under contract with the club and I've been planning next season with the board from last January.
"Everything is on track and the plan is there. We have hard work in the next two months to prepare the season as well as you can.
"If I'm under contract with the club and I'm planning with the club, of course I expect to be here."
Story of the match in stats...
Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next season
From next season, Sky Sports' Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.
