Discover the highlights of Bernardo Scores and Pickford’s impressive performance as City faces a challenging 1-1 draw. Stay updated with the latest insights.
Introduction:
Manchester City’s final home game of the 2024 season proved a thrilling 1-1 draw with Everton at Etihad Stadium. Dominating possession and creating many scoring opportunities, Pep Guardiola’s team couldn’t take all three points when facing a stubborn Everton outfit managed by Sean Dyche. An early goal from Bernardo Silva for City, Iliman Ndiaye’s spectacular equalizer was enough to send Toffees back home with half the points.
The result marked City’s 18th win out of 27 home matches across all competitions in 2024, with 65 goals scored at the Etihad. Yet the draw also underlined some inefficiencies in front of goal, as the defending Premier League champions struggled to convert dominance into a decisive victory.
A Solemn Start
Before the game, the Etihad witnessed its annual pre-match ceremony to remember all those connected to the club who passed away over the previous year. It was a touching tribute, observed with reverence by the 53,000 fans in attendance.
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City Start Strong
As play began, City did not waste much time in declaring their authority. Josko Gvardiol almost scored in the third minute with a massive header that hit the post, showing the attacking intent of Guardiola’s men. Everton, on the other hand, began by setting up in a very compact 4-5-1 formation, concentrated on defending deep and trying to break City’s rhythm. See also: Rodrigo Muniz Seals Historic Fulham 2-1 Win at Stamford Bridge
City’s perseverance eventually came to fruition in the 15th minute when Jeremy Doku cut open Everton’s defense. The winger cut inside from the left flank and slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese midfielder met the ball with precision, sliding it past Jordan Pickford from a tight angle to give City a well-deserved lead. See also: Savinho and Haaland Shine in Manchester City’s Hard-Fought 2-0 Win

Haaland and Bernardo Threaten
With the momentum in their favor, City looked to double the advantage. Again, as if by instinct, it was the talisman, Erling Haaland, who was nearly doing so when he rounded Pickford; his shot, however, was heroically blocked by Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. Only minutes later, Bernardo had another opportunity to further extend the lead when linking up with Haaland and Phil Foden, the former attempting a curling effort from outside his left foot that would narrowly miss the far post.
Guardiola and his players were visibly frustrated in the sidelines knowing how crucial it was to take early leads. The missed chances would soon come back to haunt them.

Ndiaye’s Sensational Equalizer
Despite City’s dominance, Everton responded with a rare counterattack. Iliman Ndiaye received the ball within the penalty area and had a thunderous strike from the forward into the top corner. This moment left Stefan Ortega Moreno with no chance, ending the moment of brilliance by the Everton standout player in an otherwise silent Etihad crowd.
The equalizer shifted the tone of the match. City pushed for a response before halftime but Everton’s defense stood firm under the leadership of Branthwaite and Pickford. The teams went into the break level, but City would rue the lost chances.

Second Half Drama
City started the second half with even more intensity. Brazilian winger Savinho, a sparkling light throughout the game, tormented Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko with pace and trickery. Savinho delivered a succession of dangerous crosses, and one of them found Haaland, but the Norwegian did not get his header proper.
The game turned dramatic when Savinho’s relentless pressure earned City a penalty. Mykolenko brought down the 20-year-old winger, and referee Simon Hooper pointed to the spot. Haaland stepped up confidently, but Pickford guessed correctly, diving to his left to make a stunning save. The rebound fell back into play, but when Haaland headed the ball into the net, the offside flag went up, nullifying the goal.

Everton Push Back
With the Blues struggling to restore their lead, Everton began to gather momentum. Abdoulaye Doucoure managed to get a mighty volley that deflected inches wide of the post for an unlikely lead in the visitors’ favor. At one point, midfielder Orel Mangala released a low drive from 20 yards out, but it only hit the block from Manuel Akanji and allowed the scoreline to level out.
A Frantic Finish
The final stages of the game were a blur of activity, with both teams pushing for a winner. City continued to dominate possession, piling on the pressure with wave after wave of attacks. However, Everton’s defensive resilience held firm, and their counterattacking threat kept City’s backline on high alert.
Haaland had another chance late on, but again, both Pickford’s reflex and Branthwaite’s composure thwarted him. However, at the other end, Everton almost snatched victory when a counterattack quickly released Ndiaye, only for the ball to be blocked by an Ortega Moreno save from close range.

When the final whistle blew, the score was still 1-1. Both teams walked off to applause, with Everton celebrating a hard-earned point and City left contemplating missed chances.
Reviewing the Result
While the draw marked a slightly disappointing end to City’s 2024 home campaign, it also underscored the unpredictable nature of the Premier League. For Pep Guardiola, the match served as a reminder of the importance of clinical finishing in tight contests. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous opportunities, City’s inability to capitalize ultimately cost them two points.
Everton, on the other hand, will take full pride from this performance as his side showed real grit and a certain level of determination especially for Ndiaye who caught the eye and Pickford.
Looking Forward
With 2024 coming to a close, Manchester City will aim to regroup and to work on their finishing as they seek to continue pushing for some silverware in the league and beyond. Everton, buoyed by its performance, will hope this result can help build their fight for survival.
As the calendar ticks into 2025, the Premier League promises much more drama, unpredictability, and moments of brilliance—just what the world’s most exciting football competition is famous for.