Predicted Starting XI: Bournemouth vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Fresh from winning the FA Cup at Wembley, Manchester City return to Premier League duties on Tuesday night against an in-form Bournemouth side in the penultimate game of the season.

Pep Guardiola’s men come from a domestic cup final at Wembley, played against Chelsea. January signing Antoine Semenyo – assisted by Erling Haaland – scored the only goal of the match with a stunning backheel to bring the second piece of silverware to the Etihad Stadium this term.

City will be keeping a close eye on developments in north London on Monday night as Premier League leaders Arsenal take on Burnley to their penultimate league game of the season, with City set for a trip down south before this weekend’s visit from Aston Villa to the north-west.

In the reverse fixture against the Cherries, the Sky Blues won 3-1 at home, with a brace from Erling Haaland and another strike from Nico O’Reilly. Tyler Adams netted for the visitors.

The last time Manchester City took a trip to the Vitality Stadium was for an FA Cup encounter last season, a 1-2 comeback – courtesy of Omar Marmoush and Haaland – with an impressive O’Reilly display.

Both sides have a lot to fight for heading into Tuesday night’s battle at the Vitality Stadium. Andoni Iraola’s side want to secure a European spot, potentially for UEFA Champions League football, whereas Guardiola’s army still dream of a Premier League title. 

With Rodri coming back from injury last time around, City should have a full squad available. Bournemouth, however, have Lewis Cook sidelined and Ryan Christie suspended for the clash.

Having won a cup double at the weekend, City are desperate for three points on the south coast, should they want to celebrate one more time before the likes of Bernardo Silva and John Stones leave the club at the end of their respective contracts this summer.

Here’s how we think Guardiola’s side will line up for their final away day of the Premier League campaign.

Predicted XI

Since this is Premier League action, Gianluigi Donnarumma comes back to the starting XI after James Trafford kept a clean sheet at Wembley.

Arguably one of the most consistent players this season, Matheus Nunes should hold his spot as the starting right-back against the Cherries. On the left, Nico O’Reilly is in line to start once again for his boyhood club.

The partnership of Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi has gone a long way in altering the course of Manchester City’s season since March. Both deserve to keep bringing defensive solidity against a tough opponent.

Rodri came back from injury straight into the line-up against Chelsea. In a title defining moment away at Bournemouth, he could be the key to control the tempo of the match. 

Captain Bernardo Silva is living his last moments in City blue. Reliable from the very first day, he should prove why Guardiola personally chose him as a leader for his final campaign.

Phil Foden loves a match against the Cherries, having scored five times and assisted four goals against the Dorset side. After a brilliant performance against Crystal Palace last week, the 25-year-old forward might return to the line up after starting Saturday’s final on the bench.

In the last couple of months, Jeremy Doku has stepped up his game, keeping Manchester City alive in their FA Cup and Premier League chases. The Belgium international simply must start on the left wing.

Erling Haaland has found himself once again and has been participative as ever – assisting the winning goal at Wembley. The viking might have a chance of securing the Premier League Golden Boot ahead of the final game of the season.

Former Bournemouth man Antoine Semenyo has already become a title winning goalscorer at Manchester City. The Ghanian international should start at his old home in sky blue.

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo; Foden, Doku, Haaland, Semenyo.

Substitutes: Trafford, Ake, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri, Kovacic, Cherki, Marmoush, Savinho