Manchester City have two games and six days to salvage something from their 2024/25 season as Bournemouth prepare to visit the Etihad Stadium.
Defeat to Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup final confirmed Pep Guardiola would oversee a campaign without a major domestic trophy for the first time since 2016/17.
UEFA Champions League qualification remains in City’s hands, even after their embarrassing 0-0 draw at relegated Southampton last time out in the Premier League.
They enter this match in sixth and level on points with seventh-placed Nottingham Forest. The fact a draw would be enough to move the hosts up to third on goal difference underlines the congested nature of the top-five race.
Bournemouth dealt City their first defeat of the Premier League season back in November and took the lead in the FA Cup quarterfinal between the sides before Guardiola’s men battled back to win 2-1.
Man City vs. Bournemouth lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Kevin De Bruyne‘s glittering 10-season stay at City will come to an end this week, unless he makes the unlikely call to play in the FIFA Club World Cup. What’s sure is this will be his final appearance in the sky-blue shirt at the Etihad Stadium. Despite playing 90 minutes at Wembley on Saturday, expect the experienced playmaker to start as captain.
Mateo Kovacic was unable to join him in midfield at Wembley after Guardiola cryptically said the Croatia international did not feel “perfect”, and it remains to be seen whether he will be available to return.
City have failed to score in 180 minutes since Erling Haaland returned to their starting XI, but the Norway superstar will almost certainly start in attack, probably supported by Omar Marmoush and Jeremy Doku. Phil Foden is likely to be on the bench once more as he continues to nurse an ankle ligament injury.
Man City predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Ederson (GK) — Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly — De Bruyne, Kovacic, Silva — Marmoush, Haaland, Doku
Injured: Rodri (ACL), Ake (foot), Stones (thigh), Bobb (hamstring), Kovacic (undisc, doubt)Suspended: None
Alex Scott is recovering from surgery on his broken jaw and joins Enes Unal (knee), Ryan Christie (groin), Dango Ouattara (adductor) and Luis Sinisterra (thigh) among the contingent that boss Andoni Iraola will likely be unable to call upon over the final week.
Justin Kluivert will likely come into the XI and enjoy a final chance to add to his superb tally of 10 Premier League goals away from home this season. First-choice striker Evanilson has five goals in his past five away league starts and two goals against City this term.
Dean Huijsen is expected to start in defence despite having signed a contract to join Real Madrid at the end of the season.
Bournemouth predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Kepa (GK) — Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez — Cook, Adams — Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier — Evanilson
Injured: Scott (broken jaw), Unal (knee), Christie (groin), Ouattara (adductor), Sinisterra (thigh)Suspended: None
Man City vs. Bournemouth live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | USA Network | Fubo, NBC Sports site/app |
| Canada | — | Fubo |
| UK | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League | Sky GO, Now TV |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | Star Sports Select 1 | Disney+ Hotstar, JioCinema |
