Ilkay Gündoğan is hugged by teammates after scoring his first Premier League goal of the season.
Image credit: Ilkay Gündogan
Manchester City ended their Premier League season on a high note with a solid 2-0 victory over Fulham on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
The match was played at Craven Cottage in London, and it helped City secure third place in the league table and a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
City’s season had not gone as planned.
After winning the Premier League four times in a row, they struggled this year and failed to win a major trophy for the first time since 2017.
They finished the season 13 points behind the new champions, Liverpool. But in this final game, Pep Guardiola’s team looked strong and confident.
Gündoğan’s Bicycle Kick Stuns the Crowd
The first goal of the match came in the 21st minute.
Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno tried to stop a cross from Matheus Nunes, but his weak save fell straight to Ilkay Gündoğan.
The German midfielder leaped into the air and scored a beautiful bicycle kick — his first Premier League goal of the season.
It was a special moment for the 34-year-old, who may have played one of his last games for the club.
After the goal, Fulham tried to fight back. Harry Wilson had a low shot that forced City goalkeeper Ederson to make a diving save.
Andreas Pereira tried to score on the rebound but hit the side of the net.
Haaland Seals the Win
In the second half, Manchester City stayed in control.
Defender Josko Gvardiol nearly scored with a strong header, but Leno blocked it at close range.
City finally doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when Erling Haaland scored from the penalty spot.
The penalty was awarded after Fulham’s Jorge Cuenca tripped Gündoğan in the box.
With a 2-0 lead, City held on until the final whistle. The win meant they ended the season with a 10-game unbeaten streak.
It also marked their 18th straight win over Fulham — a team they have consistently beaten over the years.
Fulham’s Mixed Season
Fulham, on the other hand, ended their season in 12th place.
At one point, they had hopes of qualifying for European football, but they won only two of their last seven games.
Captain Tom Cairney, whose contract is about to expire, may have played his final game for the club. He nearly scored in the first half but missed by inches.
Other players like Kenny Tete and Carlos Vinicius also face uncertain futures.
Fulham had some late chances to score through Sander Berge and Andreas Pereira, but City’s defense stayed firm.
In the final seconds, Raul Jiménez attempted a bicycle kick, but it went just over the bar.
What’s Next?
Manchester City now look ahead to a busy summer.
The team may go through major changes, with big names like Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish possibly leaving.
City will also be part of the expanded Club World Cup, starting next month in the United States.
Their first match will be against Wydad AC of Morocco on June 18 in Philadelphia.
This final game also made history. It was only the third Premier League match ever where neither team had an English player in their starting lineup — a rare and surprising fact in English football.
