Manchester City vs Bournemouth: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Manchester City's UEFA Champions League aspirations are firmly in the balance when they take on a Bournemouth side that can theoretically still qualify for European Football. Despite Manchester City suffering a defeat last time out in the FA Cup final, we think the Citizens will come back to claim a narrow victory against the Cherries.

Manchester City have the fourth-best home record in the Premier League, with 39 points accumulated from 18 home games - 12 wins, three draws and three losses. The home side has a terrific home record against Bournemouth, with eight consecutive wins against the Cherries in all competitions since the away side were promoted back in 2015.

The Cherries are coming into this game with two victories in their previous five league matches, having been beaten by Aston Villa, who were reduced to 10 men. Bournemouth's defensive record against Manchester City places them at a disadvantage, with the away side not keeping a clean sheet in the last 17 meetings between the two sides.

This game should provide goals, as Over 2.5 goals have landed in eight of the previous nine meetings between the two sides. Manchester City's home record should see them over the line in this fixture, although Bournemouth will make things difficult against a side coming on the back of a cup final defeat.

Manchester City 3-2 Bournemouth

Manchester City will be desperate to remain on track for a UEFA Champions League place when they take on an AFC Bournemouth side who can still theoretically qualify for European Football this season.

Date: 20/05/2025

Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Kick-Off: 8 pm

Manchester City's season will now end trophyless for the first time since Pep Guardiola's first season in charge of the club from East Manchester. The home side was beaten by Crystal Palace at Wembley in the FA Cup final via a 16th-minute strike from Eberechi Eze. Pep Guardiola's side were unfortunate not to see Dean Henderson dismissed for the Eagles, as he handled the ball outside the area. Despite this, City were awarded an excellent opportunity to equalise, but Omar Marmoush saw his penalty saved by the aforementioned Dean Henderson.

The Citizens now find themselves in sixth place in the Premier League after the weekend's results, which saw Aston Villa and Chelsea leapfrog the home side in the table. Manchester City will need a win to move into the top five places; barring that, the minimum of a draw will move them level with Aston Villa but ahead on goal difference in the league standings. A defeat against Bournemouth will keep Manchester City, and for them, having to require Nottingham Forest and Manchester United to pick up results against Aston Villa and Chelsea, respectively.

For AFC Bournemouth, their European hopes took a damaging blow in the event of Crystal Palace's 1-0 FA Cup final victory against their hosts for this game. To qualify for Europe, the Cherries will have to finish in eighth place, and they hope that Chelsea finishes seventh and wins the UEFA Conference League. Andoni Iroala's side are 11th in the Premier League and are only two points behind Brentford, who are in eighth place in the league. The Cherries have accumulated 53 points this season, scoring 55 goals and conceding 43.

The game will be available to watch on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.

Manchester City Team News

Rodri, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb are set to miss the remainder of the season. Erling Haaland has yet to reach full fitness for the Citizens will be expected to start given their limited options in the striking department.

Bournemouth Team News

Due to injury-related concerns, Enes Unal, Luis Sinisterra, Alex Scott, Ryan Christie, and Dango Ouattara are all unavailable for this fixture.

Manchester City:

Following their defeat to Crystal Palace, Manchester City have won three of their previous five matches in all competitions, with victories over Wolves (1-0), Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup (0-2) and Aston Villa (2-1). Prior to the defeat at the weekend, Manchester City's last defeat in all competitions was away in the Premier League to Nottingham Forest (1-0) back in March.

In the Premier League, Manchester City have been in excellent form, winning five of their previous eight matches and remaining unbeaten in those eight games. The home side has also won their last four consecutive home league games.

AFC Bournemouth:

The Cherries are heading into this game, following a 1-0 home defeat against Aston Villa, in which the Villains were reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute due to a second bookable offence by Jacob Ramsey. Overall, Bournemouth have won only twice in their previous five league matches, with victories against Arsenal (1-2) and Fulham (1-0), and two further draws against Manchester United (1-1) and Crystal Palace (0-0).

Bournemouth have been brilliant away from home this season, as they have the fourth-best away record in the division, with seven wins, seven draws and four losses from 18 matches on the road this campaign.

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