Manchester City
AFC Bournemouth
>Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth Predictions, Picks & Odds – 23/08/2026
Premier League · 1Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth – Best bets of the match
Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth Preview
Manchester City begin the Enzo Maresca era at the Etihad with questions to answer. The hosts sit fourth after a close to last season that yielded two wins and two defeats from their final five outings. A chastening 3-0 Community Shield loss to Arsenal has hardly settled nerves, and Omar Marmoush's fitness remains uncertain after picking up a knock in that fixture. Matheus Nunes also withdrew from the squad. Maresca will demand an immediate response on home soil.
AFC Bournemouth travel north under new boss Marco Rose, whose pre-season ended with a 2-1 defeat to Mainz that exposed defensive frailties. The Cherries occupy fourteenth, their recent form a mixed bag of two draws, two wins and a draw across the last five matches. Rose expects several players, including Tyler Adams and Alex Scott, to resume training, yet five first-team members remain sidelined. Securing a first Premier League victory at the Etihad would be a landmark achievement.
Manchester City's home win at 1.44 represents the strongest value on offer here. The hosts have won 18 of 20 head-to-head meetings with Bournemouth across all competitions, and their home record over the past 30 fixtures at the Etihad shows a 77% win rate. Even with a new manager at the helm, that pedigree is difficult to overlook.
Bournemouth arrive with five first-team players sidelined, and while Marco Rose expects several to return to training, match fitness remains a genuine concern. City's 3-0 Community Shield loss to Arsenal should sharpen focus rather than diminish confidence. Maresca will demand a reaction, and a depleted visiting side offers the ideal opportunity. The over 2.5 goals line at 1.40 also appeals given City's history of scoring freely at home.
Eight of City's last ten home meetings with Bournemouth have been won by two or more goals. That pattern, combined with the Cherries' defensive vulnerabilities highlighted during pre-season, points firmly towards a comfortable afternoon for the hosts. A home victory is our primary selection, with goals expected in a match that should follow a familiar script at the Etihad.
Trends to Know about Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth
- City boast 18 wins from 20 meetings
- Bournemouth missing five first-team players
- City hold 77% home win rate recently
Form & Statistics: Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth
Manchester City
Recent form
Season statistics (5)
AFC Bournemouth
Recent form
Season statistics (5)
Lineups: Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth
Manchester City
Starters
- 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma
- 2 Abdukodir Khusanov
- 3 Rúben Dias
- 4 Joško Gvardiol
- 5 Nico O'Reilly
- 6 Elliot Anderson
- 7 Mateo Kovacic
- 8 Phil Foden
- 9 Antoine Semenyo
- 10 Erling Haaland
- 11 Jérémy Doku
Absent
- Rodri (injury)
- Jack Grealish (Foot injury, not yet match fit.)
AFC Bournemouth
Starters
- 1 Đorđe Petrović
- 2 Adam Smith
- 3 James Hill
- 4 António Silva
- 5 Adrien Truffert
- 6 Lewis Cook
- 7 Alex Scott
- 8 Rayan
- 9 Justin Kluivert
- 10 Marcus Tavernier
- 11 Evanilson
Absent
- Will Dennis (injury)
- Matai Akinmboni (injury)
- Eli Kroupi (injury)
- Luis Sinisterra (injury)
- Ryan Christie (Suspended (red card), available August 28, 2026.)
- Veljko Milosavljevic (Knee injury, long-term absentee, no return date.)
- Julian Araujo (Thigh injury (underwent surgery), long-term absentee, expected return mid-October 2026.)
Medium confidence
A 4-3-3 against a 4-2-3-1 sets the tactical frame at the Etihad, with City's wide trio likely to probe Bournemouth's defensive shape from the first whistle. Erling Haaland operates as the focal point, supported by runners either side in what promises to be a fluid, high-tempo opening fixture.
Bournemouth's double pivot of Lewis Cook and Alex Scott will be tasked with disrupting City's midfield rhythm and limiting the space Phil Foden finds between the lines. Andoni Iraola's side have shown they can be disciplined on the road, but containing City's attacking width across 90 minutes is a considerable ask.
Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth: Head-to-Head
Average statistics (recent meetings)
How to Watch Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth Match?
What time is Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth?
Manchester City host AFC Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 23 August 2026, kicking off at 14:00 BST.
Where is Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth being played?
This match takes place at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
How Can I Watch Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth on TV and Live Stream?
Check local listings for confirmed broadcast details closer to kickoff on 23 August 2026.