Manchester City will hope to put the Community Shield behind them as they begin their Premier League era under Enzo Maresca. The Citizens take on AFC Bournemouth, who are under new management with Marco Rose, who replaces Andoni Iraola.
Enzo Maresca's first game in charge was one to forget as his Manchester City were comprehensively beaten by Premier League champions Arsenal in the annual curtain-raiser last weekend, but all eyes will be on how Maresca deals with the expectation that Manchester City will have in the Premier League. It's been a summer of change at the Etihad Stadium with the departure of Pep Guardiola and, more recently, Rodri, whose absence was felt in the Community Shield defeat to the Gunners.
Eliott Anderson is expected to fill the void considering his hefty transfer fee, although the former Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest midfielder had a debut to forget at Wembley. Manchester City are still in the market, having recently been linked with Lille's young starlet, Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Their opponents, Bournemouth, finished in the Europa League positions last season under Andoni Iraola, but his departure to Anfield opened the door for Marco Rose to take the vacant spot at the Vitality Stadium.
For this fixture, the history between the two sides suggests a Manchester City home victory. Since their arrival to the Premier League in 2015, Bournemouth have failed to beat Manchester City away from home, but when the two sides last met, it was the Cherries who thwarted Manchester City's title chances.
Goals are to be expected in this fixture, with the BTTS market landing in each of the last five meetings between the two sides. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in eight of the last 10 meetings between the two sides.
Antoine Semenyo could be the difference-maker between the two sides. Erling Haaland is expected to have fitness issues, so Semenyo is expected to carry the burden of goals in the opening weekend. Semenyo scored 17 goals in 37 league matches for both Bournemouth and Manchester City last season.
Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth
