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Manchester City confirmed their status as favorites and beat AFC Bournemouth away from home with a 2-0 result, thanks to goals from Raheem Sterling and Sergio Agüero. The Citizens were the better side for most of the match, and scored the goals at the right time to pick up three points and move up to second place, eight points behind leaders Chelsea. Is there a title race in the Premier League?
FIRST HALF
City began the game struggling to deal with the Cherries' high pressing and couldn't create real danger with the ball. Gabriel Jesus had to go off with an injury, and Sergio Agüero's entrance didn't really change things, but the visitors did improve in midfield, dominating possession and beginning to find spaces.
David Silva and Leroy Sané once again combined well on the left side, and after the Spaniard found the German, Sané's deflected cross reached Sterling for the opening goal.
At halftime, a solid performance, and the need for another goal or two to confirm the victory.
SECOND HALF
Bournemouth came out with a lot of pressure in the second half, occupying City's territory and creating dangerous chances. Harry Arter forced a fantastic save out of Willy Caballero, but City scored a second goal to calm things down when Sterling made a fantastic individual play and found Sergio Agüero inside the box. Sergio's shot was deflected off Tyrone Mings' foot, but the goalscorer doesn't matter. It was 2-0 City.
The Cherries tried desperately to find a goal, but City were in complete control and kept the clean sheet and recorded a key victory on the road.
Bournemouth: Boruc; Smith, Francis (Mings), Cook, Daniels; Surman; Ibe (Pugh), Arter, Wilshere (Afobé), Fraser; King
Goals: None
Man City: Caballero; Sagna, Stones, Kolarov, Fernandinho; Touré (Otamendi); Sterling (Nolito), De Bruyne, Silva, Sané; G.Jesus (Agüero)
Goals: Sterling (29'), Agüero (69')