May 25, (THEWILL) – Manchester City concluded their 2024/2025 English Premier League campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, guaranteeing their qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
The win lifted City to third place in the final table with 71 points from 38 matches, marking their lowest finish since the 2016/2017 season when they last ended outside the top two positions.
Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a spectacular overhead kick after Matheus Nunes’s angled shot was parried by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
The German midfielder reacted quickly to the rebound, executing an acrobatic finish that struck the crossbar before crossing the line to give the visitors the lead.
City doubled their advantage through Erling Haaland’s penalty after Sasa Lukic fouled Gundogan inside the penalty area.
The Norwegian striker converted confidently from the spot to register his 22nd goal of the season.
The match marked an emotional farewell for Kevin De Bruyne, who made his final appearance for City when he entered the game during the closing five minutes.
The Belgian playmaker’s departure represents the end of a significant chapter in the club’s recent history, having been instrumental in their success over recent seasons.
Fulham concluded their campaign in 11th position with 54 points, representing a solid mid-table finish for Marco Silva’s team.
The Cottagers provided competitive opposition throughout the match but were unable to prevent City from claiming the three points needed to cement their European qualification for the upcoming season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
