Bournemouth vs. Manchester City: Team News, Live Stream, TV Info, Ticket News

Rob PollardApr 1, 2016

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

Full video: https://t.co/btOenEyEjf #mcfc https://t.co/M7IfqPSL2S
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) April 1, 2016"

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 🌍?

📺 listings: https://t.co/55JnopFakZ #MCFC pic.twitter.com/MFept5TfG4
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) March 31, 2016"

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!

Exclusive 📷 ➡ https://t.co/bFRAAlpybf #mcfc pic.twitter.com/Wa22uW8Qxz
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) March 31, 2016"

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 #afcb https://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.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Matt Ritchie of Bournemouth in action during the Barclays Premier League match between A.F.C. Bournemouth and Swansea City at Vitality Stadium on March 12, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Im

Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

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.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 20, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/

Michael Regan/Getty Images

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.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: Eddie Howe manager of Bournemouth shouts during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and A.F.C. Bournemouth at White Hart Lane on March 20, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Im

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

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

(via Odds Shark)

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.