Pep Guardiola's side needed just a point to secure a top-five finish and they went on to take all three at Craven Cottage with an impressive showing
Manchester City booked their place in next year's Champions League with a 2-0 win at Fulham on the final day of the 2024-25 Premier League season. Pep Guardiola's side needed only a point to seal their spot in the top five and didn't have too much trouble against the blunt Cottagers.
After a supremely dull opening 21 minutes, City went ahead in spectacular fashion. Matheus Nunes wriggled his way inside from the right wing and saw a dink deflected to the far post by goalkeeper Bernd Leno, where Ilkay Gundogan was waiting to pounce, and he produced a spectacular overhead kick which caressed the underside of the crossbar on the way in.
Fulham ought to have been level just before the break when Harry Wilson was given plenty of time to walk into the penalty area and force a low save out of Ederson, with Andrea Pereira only capable of firing into the side-netting.
Midway through the second half, City were awarded a penalty when Gundogan was tripped by Sasa Lukic. The travelling away fans chanted Erling Haaland's name to take the spot kick after Omar Marmoush missed in last week's FA Cup final, and they got their wish as the Norwegian slotted home from 12 yards.
Guardiola afforded Kevin De Bruyne one last outing in a City shirt before his exit from the Etihad Stadium as the visitors wrapped up third place in the Premier League.
GOAL rates City's players from Craven Cottage…
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Ederson (7/10):
Produced some smart saves on the rare occasions Fulham managed to register some shots on goal. Even when slipping, his kicking was exemplary.
Matheus Nunes (7/10):
Ended the season with some more competent performances at right-back, and with Kyle Walker's return ruled out, can expect to continue there into the Club World Cup.
Ruben Dias (7/10):
A bright performance on and off the ball, spreading play with his excellent passing range and sweeping up in City's high line.
Manuel Akanji (7/10):
For the most part unbothered by the threat posed by Jimenez, and was never afraid to get touch-tight to his man.
Josko Gvardiol (6/10):
More proficient in the final third than in his own at the back. Would have been happy to see the back of creator-in-chief Wilson after his substitution early in the second half.
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Nico Gonzalez (6/10):
Kept play ticking in the middle of the park on a rare start having been dropped from the line up in recent weeks.
Ilkay Gundogan (8/10):
The veteran midfielder rolled back the years here. Got on the scoresheet with an acrobatic overhead kick of a man half his age, before roaming into the Fulham box again and winning the penalty for Haaland to convert.
Bernardo Silva (6/10):
Like Gonzalez, was far from extravagant in a midfield battle that City easily won with their guile and technique.
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Omar Marmoush (7/10):
Most of City's threatening moves seemed to involve Marmoush in some way or another, wreaking plenty of havoc in the Fulham penalty area.
Erling Haaland (7/10):
Didn't have too much to scream and shout about until the final 20 minutes when he was handed the chance to score from 12 yards, which he took calmly with a lovely rolled finish.
Jeremy Doku (6/10):
Threatened to create danger with his blistering pace and trademark trickery, though left you wanting more with a lack of end product.
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Savinho (6/10):
On for Doku after City went two up.
Phil Foden (6/10):
Replaced Marmoush for the final 10 minutes.
Kevin De Bruyne (N/A):
Made his final appearance in a City shirt, coming on late in the day for Gundogan.
Claudio Echeverri (N/A):
Subbed on for Haaland.
Pep Guardiola (7/10):
City needed the final day to come with as little fuss as possible for them, and that it did with a professional performance.