Manchester City vs Bournemouth (Premier League): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How to Watch | OneFootball

Manchester City host Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon as they look to return to winning ways in Premier League action.

The Blues secured their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-final stage on Wednesday night after turning around a one-goal deficit into a 1-3 scoreline in their favour away at Championship side Swansea City.

After a marvellous strike by Swans midfielder Goncalo Franco set the tone in the 12th minute, a goal on the stroke of half-time by Jeremy Doku plus two late strikes by Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki – who both scored their first goals since returning from injury – helped set up a home tie against Brentford in the last-eight.

The match provided a welcome opportunity for players to rack up valuable minutes after a long injury list finally begins to relieve the pressure on medical staff, and absentees return for selection after time on the sidelines.

Rayan Ait-Nouri and Abdukodir Khusanov saw their first starts since their respective injury problems in recent months, while James Trafford and Divine Mukasa took advantage of cup action with their own starts.

Last time out in the Premier League, however, saw City fall to defeat at Villa Park after a clever opener from Matty cash proved decisive. Despite the Blues’ second-half efforts, they were unable to salvage a point against a highly resolute Aston Villa defence, despite Erling Haaland having a last-minute equaliser ruled out for offside.

As for Bournemouth, the Cherries are flying high in the league sitting second and four points off leaders Arsenal. After losing key players in the summer including Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi, and Dango Ouattara, the south coast side are proving their qualities of adaptability among English football’s elite.

The visiting side come into this weekend’s affair in the north-west having lost only one Premier League match this season, with that defeat coming on the opening weekend in a 4-2 defeat at the hands of champions Liverpool.

Ahead of Manchester City’s home match this Sunday afternoon against the travelling Bournemouth, here is everything you need to know about this top-five clash!

Match Details

Manchester City face off against AFC Bournemouth on Sunday 2nd November at the Etihad Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 16:30 GMT.

Match Officials

Anthony Taylor has been given the responsibility of officiating Sunday’s clash from the role of on-field match referee, as confirmed by the Premier League.

You can check out the complete list of match officials here!

Team News

After Pep Guardiola’s confirmation that first-team stars Erling Haaland and Rodri will be available for selection this weekend, the Catalan coach has a largely fully-fit squad to pick from with an outstanding doubt lingering over only Mateo Kovacic.

It looks increasingly as though places are up for contention as injured players return to fight for their names on team-sheet. Rayan Cherki’s performance against Swansea has certainly given Guardiola something to about, as he continues to reinforce Manchester City’s layers of safety in squad depth.

As for the visitors in AFC Bournemouth, they too are blessed with an injury-free squad, apart from Brazilian forward Evanilson – who still remains a slight doubt after his knock.

But that does not spell a lack of presence up top for the Cherries, as they welcomed back Turkish netter and former Manchester City-associated forward Enes Unal from a long-term ligament injury as he managed to make a minute of action against Nottingham Forest.

With both squads boasting healthy squads ahead of the weekend, and both coaches having almost a full selection on their hands, it will no doubt be a spectacular contest at the top of the table.

Press Conference Quotes

Rodri and Erling Haaland are both set for availability for Manchester City against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon, as confirmed by Pep Guardiola to the media.

On Rodri’s potential return this weekend: “I think he will be ready to help us, I don’t know if from the beginning but hopefully he can be with us.”

On Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden’s competition: “It’s a real option playing them together in some games – like Omar Marmoush and Erling Haaland. As much as they’re fit, we have a lot of alternatives.”

On Phil Foden’s potential 200th Premier League appearance this weekend: “It’s an honour for me to have seen these 200 games close to him, and the impact he has done for us – the club of his heart. It’s a good milestone, especially at his age.”

On AFC Bournemouth: “It’s a consistent team, and a fantastic team, manager, players. A tough opponent, but we know.”

On Antoine Semenyo: “He’s an extraordinary player.”

Head to Head

The last meeting between these two sides saw club legend Kevin De Bruyne receive a well-deserved five-star send off, as he played what would be his last match at the  Etihad Stadium. Manchester City cruised to a 3-1 victory, as Omar Marmoush unleashed a sizzler of a strike to claim last year’s Goal of the Season award.

A fairly unseasoned match-up until more recent times, the two clubs have met a total of 24 times, with only two of those being cup action. Manchester City claim the bragging rights to this one, as their 21 wins across this period represents a gleaming record against the Cherries.

Bournemouth’s sole win against the Blues came last season, when goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson buried Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium in a 2-1 win as part of a torrid winter run.

December 1987 was Manchester City’s first encounter with Bournemouth, when they claimed a 2-0 win in Division Two. A sign of the times, now Manchester City look to players like Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush and Jeremy Doku for their goalscoring menace – much different to the names on the team sheet that day in icons such as Neil McNab, David White and Paul Lake.

Statistics

Two of the Premier League’s most free-scoring sides this season, Manchester City hold the joint-record for goals scored with 17, while Bournemouth trail closely behind with 16. However, it could be said that the Cherries have established this on a more consistent basis, with their brilliant three average goals per game as opposed to City’s 2.67.

Form at the Etihad Stadium represents a much more flavourful record than that of away ventures. Having won all three of their last matches at home, the Blues have an average of 2.25 points per game, but across the away matches it is a much less inspiring 1.4.

Bournemouth’s 1.22 goals conceded per match to Manchester City’s 0.78 represents the defensive display the Blues have put up this season, keeping a clean sheet in 50% of home games so far this season. It seems Bournemouth struggle defensively away from the Vitality stadium with their 25% clean sheets in those affairs this campaign.

Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku both sit in the top-10 for chances created this season, with 17 and 16 respectively, and combining that with Erling Haaland’s marauding lead in the race for the golden boot with 11 in nine matches, it’s clear to see the attacking facets on display for Manchester City. Bournemouth have their own threats though, with Haaland’s closest competitor this season coming in the form of Antoine Semenyo, who has six goals to his name.

How to Watch

For viewers in the United Kingdom, Manchester City against Bournemouth will be available to watch live on Sky Sports. Radio coverage will be also available regionally through BBC Radio Manchester.

Viewers in the United States will be able to watch the match live on fuboTV and NBC Sports.

A full list of global TV listings for the Premier League clash can be found HERE!

City Xtra will have full live coverage available on X, Facebook and Instagram throughout the matchday, with content also on cityxtra.co.uk!