Bournemouth vs Man City: Match Preview & predictions
Bournemouth vs Man City: Match Preview & predictions. Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side would be aiming to overcome midweek Carabao Cup disappointment as they take on Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday.
Neither Pep nor his players seemed particularly concerned about their 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Wednesday, with City’s premature cup exit easing their fixture load amid a hugely demanding 2024/25 schedule.
The league leaders head into Saturday’s clash with a mountain of injuries and face a side that beat Arsenal 2-0 in their previous outing at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth had endured an indifferent start to the campaign before they sank the ten-man Gunners and Andoni Iraola‘s side followed that up with a useful point at Aston Villa last weekend.
The Cherries are now up to 11th in the Premier League table, but are still searching for their first-ever win over the Cityzens at the 22nd attempt.
Here’s how we preview the upcoming Man City’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth.
What time does Bournemouth vs Man City kick-off?
Location: Bournemouth, England
Stadium: Vitality Stadium
Date: Saturday 2 November
Kick-off: 15:00 BST / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT
Referee: Michael Oliver
VAR: Graham Scott
Bournemouth vs Man City H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Bournemouth: 0 win
Man City: 5 wins
Draws: 0
Last meeting: Bournemouth 0-1 Man City (24 February 2024) – Premier League
Bournemouth team news;
The Cherries have been dealt a considerable midfield blow with Alex Scott ruled out for the foreseeable with a knee injury.
There are also doubts surrounding their number one goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga heading into this fixture due to a thigh injury. Luis Sinisterra and Philip Billing will both be assessed having missed the draw at Villa Park.
Big-money summer arrival Evanilson should come back into Iraola’s XI, having scored off the bench last weekend.
Bournemouth predicted lineup vs Man City
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evanilson.
Man City team news;
The visitors are not in a good moment on the injury front. Their woes worsened in midweek when Savinho was stretchered off in City’s cup defeat to Tottenham with a suspected ankle injury.
Manuel Akanji also pulled up ahead of the game, but the Swiss defender is expected to be fit for Saturday’s clash. Erling Haaland will also return to the XI having been rested on Wednesday.
City are without Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku for the trip down to the south coast. Rodri and Oscar Bobb are long-term absentees.
Man City predicted lineup vs Bournemouth
Man City (3-4-2-1): Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Stones, Kovacic; Bernardo, Gundogan, Foden, Nunes; Haaland.
Bournemouth vs Man City score prediction;
Wednesday’s defeat combined with their injury woes means some might fancy an upset here. Bournemouth are such an awkward team to play against, with Iraola’s pressing ideals and their directness in possession bound to force City into some difficult periods.
However, the Cherries have a wretched record in this fixture and Guardiola’s side can always be counted on to respond when the tide is seemingly turning against them. While an upset shouldn’t be dismissed, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the perennial champions send out a statement on the south coast.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-3 Man City