Bournemouth vs Man City Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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AFC Bournemouth remain in the hunt for a top five finish and UEFA Champions League qualification as they take on Manchester City, holding on to Arsenal in the title race.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Universo
Bournemouth preview: Cherries’ complicated end
If Aston Villa finish fifth and win the UEFA Europa League then sixth, where Bournemouth currently sit, will be enough for UEFA Champions League football. The Cherries could still finish in the top five ahead of Liverpool anyway, though.
Andoni Iraola, despite that possibility, will be leaving the club and replaced by Marco Rose this summer, and yet, despite that, Bournemouth remain in excellent form and that continued with a 1-0 win at Craven Cottage against Fulham last week.
Man City preview: Domestic double
Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side come into this one on the back of a slender 1-0 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium at the weekend, backing up their EFL Cup triumph back in March.
At the time of writing, prior to Arsenal’s clash at home to Burnley, City sit two points behind the Gunners. Under the assumption that Arsenal beat the relegated Clarets on Monday, City will have to win this one or the title race will be done.
Bournemouth team news: Christie suspended
In that clash with Fulham last week, versatile Scotland international midfielder Ryan Christie was sent off and so he is now missing through suspension for this one.
Alex Jimenez has been suspended by the club due to an internal investigation, while midfielder Lewis Cook tries to work his way back from a thigh injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Adams; Rayan, Kroupi, Tavernier; Evanilson
Unavailable: Jimenez (Disciplinary), Soler (Injured), Christie (Suspended)
Questionable: Cook (Fitness)
Man City team news: Fully fit
Manchester City fairly heavily rotated in their victory over Crystal Palace last midweek and so they don’t really need to rotate, despite their hectic fixture schedule.
They travel down to the south coast with no injury concerns or suspension issues and so full throttle is to be expected from Guardiola’s Cityzens.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Silva; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Bournemouth vs Man City prediction
That aforementioned victory over Fulham has extended Bournemouth’s unbeaten run of form to 16 matches in the Premier League, having won four of their last five matches – including a famous win away at Arsenal mid-way through last month. City have been excellent since that victory against the Gunners in the EFL Cup and, if anyone is going to end Iraola’s remarkable unbeaten ending to his reign a the Vitality Stadium, then it will be the 2025/26 domestic cup winners, but it won’t be straightforward against an excellent Bournemouth side.
Bournemouth vs Man City tip: Man City to win & both teams to score
