Manchester City secured a third-placed finish and Champions League qualification with a commanding 2-0 victory over Fulham on the final day of the Premier League season.
While Fulham may have had their chances in the first half, Manchester City were clearly the superior side as they fought to confirm their Champions League place, and Ilkay Gundogan capped their dominance with a stunning bicycle kick after 21 minutes to put the Citizens into the lead, with the visitors maintaining their advantage heading into the half-time break.
Gundogan was involved once again in the second 45 minutes as Man City searched for their second, with the German being brought down inside the penalty area for Erling Haaland to double their lead from the penalty spot, sealing their 2-0 victory and position in the Champions League places.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Despite it being a difficult campaign for Manchester City, the Citizens still manage to qualify for the Champions League with a third-placed finish in the Premier League.
Man City have certainly improved in the latter stages of the campaign, although they did suffer defeat in the FA Cup final, but performances such as today will give them confidence that they can return to challenging for the title next year.
As for Fulham, an inconsistent end to the campaign put an end to any European ambitions heading toward the final day, but a summer of improvement could see the Cottagers return better than ever next term.
They did threaten on several occasions, taking 13 shots and creating 1.74 expected goals, but a lack of quality in the final moment ultimately cost them the match.
FULHAM VS. MANCHESTER CITY HIGHLIGHTS
21st min: Fulham 0-1 Manchester City (Ilkay Gundogan)
© Imago
Gundogan opens the scoring with a bicycle kick!
Matheus Nunes combines with Omar Marmoush on the right side, and the full-back battles his way into the penalty area and attempts to chip Bernd Leno.
Leno gets a slight touch to direct the ball toward the back post, where Gundogan expertly twists and connects with a bicycle kick, his effort coming off the crossbar and into the back of the net.
73rd min: Fulham 0-2 Manchester City (Erling Haaland)
© Imago
Haaland scores from the spot, surely that is game over now!
Gundogan involved again as the midfielder is taken down by Sasa Lukic inside the Fulham penalty area, and the referee instantly awards a penalty for Man City.
Haaland steps up to take and calmly rolls the ball into the corner, sending Leno in the opposite direction.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ILKAY GUNDOGAN
© Imago
The midfielder just loves a final-day performance!
Gundogan scored the sensational opener with a beautiful bicycle-kick, a late contender for the goal of the season award, before being taken down in the area to win the penalty for Haaland's goal.
The midfielder created the most opportunities in the match, with five, and was also the most fouled in the game, four times, highlighting his brilliance on the pitch.
FULHAM VS. MANCHESTER CITY MATCH STATS
Possession: Fulham 47%-53% Manchester City
Shots: Fulham 13-20 Manchester City
Shots on target: Fulham 3-5 Manchester City
Corners: Fulham 1-6 Manchester City
Fouls: Fulham 11-5 Manchester City
BEST STATS
3 - Fulham vs Manchester City is only the third game in Premier League history to see no English player in either of the starting XIs, after Portsmouth vs Arsenal in December 2009, and Arsenal vs Chelsea in January 2019. Global. pic.twitter.com/pmgycaqqqG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 25, 2025
Erling Haaland has scored 147 goals in Europe's top 5 leagues:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) May 25, 2025
85 for Man City
62 for BVB pic.twitter.com/EeFmMtHbmb
WHAT NEXT?
For Fulham, a brief break will be followed by Marco Silva's side beginning their summer preparations to push for European football in the 2025-26 Premier League season.
Meanwhile, Manchester City will compete in the Champions League once again, with today's victory securing a third-placed finish in the Premier League for Pep Guardiola's men.
Ellis Stevens
