Burnley 1-0 Manchester City: Clarets relegated as City take top spot

Burnley created their best chance of the game through Zian Flemming, but the Dutchman dragged his shot wide. Nico O’Reilly came close to doubling City’s advantage shortly before the half-hour mark, when his header forced Dúbravka into a smart save at his near post.

Doku and Haaland looked to link up again just before the break, but they were denied by some excellent defensive work by Maxime Estève, bringing the first half to a close. City came out strong in the second half, with Antoine Semenyo having a half-volley blocked inside the area in the first minute. The Ghanaian came close again moments later, but lifted his strike over the crossbar from close range.

Haaland almost doubled City’s advantage in the 54th minute, but the Norwegian clipped the post with his right-footed effort. It was Guardiola who blinked first on the substitution front, with Semenyo and Aït-Nouri withdrawn in favour of Nico González and Savinho. The latter’s impact was felt instantly when his shot was cleared off the line by a Burnley defender.

The Clarets’ first change of the night saw Lyle Foster replace Loum Tchaouna in the 72nd minute. Foster also made an immediate impact on the game. When Burnley launched a counterattack, the Jamaican’s ball to Flemming was slightly overhit, and the attack petered out.

Estève was vital to the hosts’ defence yet again in the 77th minute, when his sliding tackle halted a rampant Rayan Cherki. Moments later, Haaland uncharacteristically sent the ball flying over the crossbar with a volley from ten yards.

Flemming and Bashir Humphreys were withdrawn in favour of Florentino and Armando Broja for the final ten minutes of regular time. González came close to extending City’s lead late in the night, but his drilled effort went wide.

Anthony and Josh Laurent were then replaced by Mike Trésor and Marcus Edwards as Burnley continued to search for an equaliser which would keep their season alive, even if just for three more days. However, it was City who came closer following the change, with Bernardo Silva seeing his shot blocked before Dubrávka saved from Haaland.

The Slovakian keeper was called into action yet again just moments later, when he comfortably denied O’Reilly from close range after the youngster mis-hit his shot. Dubrávka was sent up for a corner in the dying second, but Ward-Prowse could only find a Manchester City head, confirming Burnley’s relegation back to the second tier.