Bournemouth vs. Manchester City: Team News, Live Stream, TV Info, Ticket News
Manchester City face a crucial trip to Bournemouth on Saturday as they go in search of the points needed to secure a UEFA Champions League place for next season.
City are currently fourth, just one point ahead of Manchester United and West Ham United, having taken four points from the last 18 available.
It’s a dreadful run of form that needs to be drastically improved.
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Manager Manuel Pellegrini will leave the club in the summer, and he knows failure to finish inside the top four would sully his tenure.
Bournemouth are 13th, 12 points above the drop zone in what has been a superb season for Eddie Howe’s side.
The two sides met at the Etihad Stadium back in October, with City running out 5-1 winners.
"Fabian Delph pranks CityTV! #AprilFools
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) April 1, 2016"
Full video: https://t.co/btOenEyEjf #mcfc https://t.co/M7IfqPSL2S
Date: Saturday, 2 April
Kick-off: 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET
TV Listings: NBC Sports Live Extra
Live Stream: n/a
"Where can you watch #afcbvcity around the 🌍?
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) March 31, 2016"
📺 listings: https://t.co/55JnopFakZ #MCFC pic.twitter.com/MFept5TfG4
Form Guide
Bournemouth
Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Bournemouth
Bournemouth 3-2 Swansea City
Newcastle United 1-3 Bournemouth
Bournemouth 2-0 Southampton
Watford 0-0 Bournemouth
Manchester City
Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United
Manchester City 0-0 Dynamo Kiev (Champions League)
Norwich City 0-0 Manchester City
Manchester City 4-0 Aston Villa
Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City
"Check out our training gallery pics ahead of #afcbvcity this Saturday!
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) March 31, 2016"
Exclusive 📷 ➡ https://t.co/bFRAAlpybf #mcfc pic.twitter.com/Wa22uW8Qxz
Predicted Formations
Bournemouth
Howe welcomes back Joshua King, who is available after he suffered a knock in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur prior to the international break, but Junior Stanislas (hamstring) and Harry Arter (Achilles) are doubts.
Bournemouth (from): Boruc, Federici, Bennett, Cook, Costa, Daniels, Distin, Elphick, Francis, Smith, Wiggins, Andrade, Atsu, Gosling, MacDonald, O'Kane, Pugh, Ritchie, Surman, Stanislas, Afobe, Grabban, Gradel, Iturbe, King, Murray, Rantie.
Predicted XI: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Gradel; Afobe, King.
"VIDEO: @OfficialTM_3 says he is determined to be positive as he recovers from surgery: https://t.co/780BS9rXUP #afcbhttps://t.co/tAtdPdECId
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) April 1, 2016"
Manchester City
City are without Yaya Toure, who has a knee injury, as well as Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Fabian Delph and Raheem Sterling. Kevin De Bruyne and Samir Nasri are back after long absences.
Manchester City (from): Caballero, Wright, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Mangala, Otamendi, Sagna, Zabaleta, De Bruyne, Delph, Fernandinho, Fernando, Nasri, Navas, Silva, Toure, A Garcia, M Garcia, Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho, Celina.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Caballero; Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho; Navas, Iheanacho, Silva; Aguero.
"PELLEGRINI: The five players who have injuries are Hart, Kompany, Yaya Toure, Sterling and Fabian Delph. Everyone else is fit. #afcbvcity
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) April 1, 2016"
Players To Watch
Bournemouth: Matt Ritchie
Bournemouth's Matt Ritchie provides a real threat down the right, with his ability to whip dangerous balls into the box their most potent weapon.
He sticks wide, can play neat passes and is their main set-piece taker.
City need to keep him quiet.
Manchester City: Sergio Aguero
City's form has been awful—but the form of their star striker has remained exceptional this year.
He's scored 21 in 33 games across all competitions this season, despite some injury problems.
He's sharp at the moment. Against United, he was perhaps the only City player to emerge with his reputation enhanced after another determined display.
Bournemouth will no doubt have their hands full.
Key Battle:
Eddie Howe vs. Manuel Pellegrini
There's been a suspicion this season that teams have figured out Pellegrini.
Some believe his tactics are too rigid and managers now know if they sit tight and frustrate City, they can get some joy—particularly given their defensive woes.
Howe has set his side up differently, though. Bournemouth have tried to play open football all season. That suits City, who seem to get more joy against teams who don't look to defend for their life.
It'll be a fascinating tactical battle.
Ticket Information
For ticket information on all Premier League games, visit the official site or go to the ticket page on the home club's official website.
Odds
Bournemouth: +359
Manchester City: -137
Draw: +267
Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard.
