- Here is the Man City vs Bournemouth prediction article for 2026/27 Premier League which breaks down form, key players, odds and H2H meetings ahead of the clash.
- The match will be played at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
- Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 PM EAT.
Manchester City begin life after Pep Guardiola when they welcome Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca taking charge in his first Premier League fixture of the 2026-27 season.
Maresca has inherited a side that remains packed with quality but has undergone considerable change during the summer.
The departures of Ballon D’or winner Rodri, Savinho, Bernardo Silva , John Stones with imminent departure of Omar Marmoush among others have left the new manager with the difficult task of reshaping the squad while trying to restore City to the top of the Premier League.
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City lifted both the FA Cup and EFL Cup last season but finished behind Arsenal in the league, while their preparations for the new campaign suffered another setback when they were beaten 3-0 by the Gunners in last weekend’s Community Shield.
Maresca will nevertheless take encouragement from City’s remarkable record on the opening weekend. The Citizens have won their first league game in 14 of their last 15 seasons, with their only defeat during that period coming against Tottenham in 2021-22.
The Etihad should also provide confidence. City have won all nine of their previous Premier League home meetings with Bournemouth, scoring 34 goals in the process.
Their most recent encounter ended in a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium in May, a result that effectively confirmed Arsenal as Premier League champions.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, begin their own new era under Rose following the departure of Andoni Iraola who has joined Liverpool in the same capacity.
The German coach arrives with a difficult act to follow after the Cherries enjoyed their best Premier League finish last season, ending the campaign in sixth place with only seven defeats from 38 matches.
Bournemouth also finished last season strongly and have carried an impressive 18-match unbeaten league run into the new campaign, recording eight wins and 10 draws during that sequence.
Their pre-season preparations were encouraging too, with Bournemouth winning three of their five friendlies and scoring 22 goals, including an emphatic 10-1 victory over Genoa.
However, their record in Premier League opening fixtures is less convincing. Bournemouth have won only two of their nine previous season openers, while they have beaten Manchester City just once in 18 Premier League meetings.
Rose will therefore need to find a way of balancing Bournemouth’s attacking ambition with defensive discipline if they are to take anything from the Etihad.
What time does Manchester City vs Bournemouth start?
Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 PM EAT on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England.
Manchester City vs Bournemouth team news
Manchester City will be without Jeremy Doku, who has been ruled out for two to three weeks with a calf injury.
Savinho and Omar Marmoush are also unlikely to feature as both players remain involved in discussions over potential moves to Tottenham Hotspur.
Matheus Nunes is available again after missing the Community Shield through a minor muscle problem and could come into the starting XI at right-back.
With Doku unavailable, Maresca could hand Jack Grealish a surprise start, which would represent his first start for City in more than 600 days. Antoine Semenyo, who previously played for Bournemouth, is expected to operate on the opposite flank.
Record signing Elliot Anderson could make his Premier League debut in midfield, while Erling Haaland will lead the attack. The Norwegian has already scored seven times in just four opening-weekend Premier League appearances.
Bournemouth have a longer injury list heading into the trip to Manchester.
Eli Junior Kroupi remains sidelined with a foot injury, while Amine Adli, Veljko Milosavljevic, Julian Araujo, David Brooks and Julio Soler are also unavailable.
Ryan Christie is suspended, meaning Alex Scott and Lewis Cook are expected to form the central midfield partnership.
New arrivals Alvaro Rodriguez and Juanlu Sanchez, alongside Tyler Adams, have returned to training but may not yet be ready to play a significant role.
Antonio Silva, however, is expected to make his Premier League debut after arriving from Benfica and could partner James Hill at centre-back.
Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth Predicted lineups
Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Anderson, Kovacic; Semenyo, Foden, Grealish; Haaland
Bournemouth: Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Cook, Scott; Rayan, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson
Manchester City vs Bournemouth head-to-head record
Manchester City have enjoyed overwhelming dominance in this fixture at the Etihad, winning all nine of their previous Premier League home meetings with Bournemouth.
Overall, Bournemouth have won only once in 18 Premier League encounters between the sides, while City have claimed 16 victories.
The Cherries did, however, beat City 2-1 at home in November 2024 and also held them to a 1-1 draw in their most recent meeting last season.
Man City vs Bournemouth prediction
Manchester City’s transition into the post-Guardiola era makes this a more intriguing opening fixture than the head-to-head record might suggest.
Bournemouth have momentum on their side after an excellent sixth-place finish and an 18-match unbeaten league run, while Rose has inherited an energetic side capable of troubling bigger opponents.
However, the Etihad has traditionally been a difficult venue for the Cherries, and City’s exceptional record against Bournemouth at home should not be overlooked.
Much could depend on Haaland. If the Norwegian starts the season in his usual ruthless fashion, City should have enough attacking quality to overcome the visitors despite their squad changes.
Bournemouth are likely to make the hosts work for the points, but City’s home advantage and superior individual quality should ultimately prove decisive.
Maresca may not get the easy introduction he would have wanted, but City should have enough to begin the post-Guardiola era with three points.