Man City move up to second, eight points behind Chelsea

Pep Guardiola's team won their third consecutive Premier League match when they defeated Bournemouth 2-0 on the evening of February 13.

Coach Pep Guardiola hugs Aguero after the match ended. Photo: Reuters.

Goals: Sterling (29'), Mings (own goal 69').

Man City received bad news just 14 minutes into the match. In-form striker Gabriel Jesus lay down clutching his right ankle after chasing the ball from Sterling's pass. Coach Guardiola was forced to withdraw the Brazilian player and replace him with the out-of-favour striker Aguero.

The visitors did not let up the pressure on Bournemouth. Sterling opened the scoring when he tapped the ball in close range. Sterling's goal came just two minutes later when he hit the post.

Bournemouth responded immediately after the kick-off, but Joshua King was penalized for putting the ball into the Man City net. The Bournemouth striker had pulled John Stones' shirt in the run-in.

Goalkeeper Caballero kept Man City's goal safe with an excellent save from Harry Arter's long-range shot. Just a few minutes later, Sterling continued to be involved in Man City's second goal when he made a cross that Tyrone Mings scored into his own net. In this situation, Aguero touched the ball slightly before the Bournemouth defender "scored" for Man City.

The win at Bournemouth moved Man City up to second place with 52 points, eight points behind leaders Chelsea. Tottenham and Arsenal are third and fourth, both on 50 points. Liverpool were pushed out of the top four and are fifth, while Man Utd are still stuck in their familiar sixth place.

Sterling opened the scoring for Man City. Photo: Reuters.

Pep Guardiola's team jumped from fourth to second after round 25 and became Chelsea's closest competitor. Man City took advantage of Chelsea's draw with Burnley and Tottenham's defeat at Liverpool.

The inspiration of the 2011-2012 season is still there with veterans like Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero. Man City fans still remember the magical time when Man City made a comeback against their neighbors Man Utd when they were eight points behind with only six rounds of the season left.

Man City will face Chelsea in early April and this time they have a lot of time, up to 13 rounds. Pep Guardiola is still looking for his seventh national championship in the last eight seasons.

Leroy Sane hit the crossbar late in the match. Photo: Reuters.

Without the top wingers he had at Barca and Bayern, Pep Guardiola sent in the young duo of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane against Bournemouth. Both players proved they are the future of Man City, indirectly and directly contributing to two goals. Sterling opened the scoring from Sane's pass and made a cross for Man City's second. Sane was unlucky to score his own goal when he hit the crossbar late in the match.

Sterling has scored six Premier League goals this season, the same as last season for Man City. Bournemouth are the 22-year-old's favourite team so far, having netted five times in the Premier League.

While Man City are back in the title race, Bournemouth are in danger of having to fight for their lives. They are yet to win in 2017 after seven games in all competitions. Bournemouth are still six points clear of the relegation zone, but their current form is far from safe.

According to VNE