Bournemouth have guaranteed European football for the first time and still chase a Champions League place, after a 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium confirmed Arsenal as Premier League winners and ensured Andoni Iraola’s final season remains alive going into the last match.
The point against City means Bournemouth cannot finish lower than seventh and will compete in Europe in 2026-27, while Iraola, who is leaving after three seasons, praised the performance and atmosphere on a night that also kept alive hopes of a historic top-four-style qualification.
Bournemouth sit sixth, three points behind Liverpool in fifth and three ahead of Brighton in seventh, with both rivals holding a better goal difference. Fifth guarantees Champions League football, while sixth will also qualify if Aston Villa win Wednesday’s Europa League final against Freiburg and then finish fifth.
That complicated route for Bournemouth depends on Villa losing at Manchester City on Sunday and Liverpool beating Brentford, a combination that would drop Villa to fifth. Bournemouth will also set a new Premier League points record for the third straight season if they avoid defeat away to Nottingham Forest.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Iraola said the occasion surpassed anything imagined last summer. “At the beginning of the season you didn’t imagine it. It has been so nice, and we have a chance to fight for the Champions League in the last game,” he said.
Iraola felt the display matched the stakes and underlined the team’s growth. “We really deserve this, especially for the game. We played so well. We have not won the game, but it does not matter. I’ve enjoyed it so much, how we played and the personality we showed.”
Bournemouth Champions League hopes, performance and season records
The head coach highlighted Bournemouth’s attacking ambition against the champions. “We had great chances to score the second one and we wanted to win the game, but I’ve enjoyed it. Today has been a good reflection of the club. I’m very happy for the club, the players, the supporters and the staff.”
Iraola, who leaves after what the club describe as three wildly successful seasons, underlined how tangible progress felt. “It’s the best way to finish, with something you can touch. I can’t ask for anything more.” Bournemouth are already assured their highest Premier League finish, beating last season’s ninth place.
The draw with City also produced a notable statistic. Bournemouth’s 17 league draws this season are the most for any team ending in the top half since Newcastle United recorded 17 stalemates in 2003-04, when Newcastle finished fifth in the Premier League.
Bournemouth Champions League hopes, Nottingham Forest finale and Iraola future
Iraola stressed that attention now turns to the final fixture at Nottingham Forest rather than personal plans. “We have a special group of players. They are consistent and always there. Right now, there is nothing about my future in my head, I just want to celebrate and push it further.”
The coach confirmed the minimum target is already met. “We have [secured] the Europa League; next let’s maximise our options. Can we take the last Champions League spot?” he said. Linked with Bayer Leverkusen, Iraola added: “I still don’t know where I will go, but I’m in no rush, let’s finish on a high.”
Bournemouth Champions League hopes and Guardiola narrative
The build-up to the match was dominated by reports that Pep Guardiola planned to leave Manchester City after the season, stories Guardiola refused to confirm before or after kick-off, while City arrived shortly after a tense FA Cup final and appeared affected by that demanding schedule.
Iraola praised Guardiola’s status and acknowledged City’s fatigue. “Pep is the top of the top. He has won everything. It was a difficult game for them; they played three days ago with the tension of the [FA Cup] final. We made them play a difficult game and they were obviously tired, but they have quality. It makes it even nicer when you play like this against an opponent that is so good.”
With European qualification secured and several records already achieved, Bournemouth approach the Forest trip knowing a positive result would extend their points benchmark again, while also keeping alive a realistic, if complex, chance of Champions League football to mark the end of Iraola’s impressive tenure.