Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth: Preview & Prediction

Manchester City will hope to continue their perfect start under Pep Guardiola when AFC Bournemouth are the visitors to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The Citizens, who have won every game, both in the Premier League and in Europe, since Catalan Guardiola took over in the summer, lead the way at the summit of the top-flight.

Last Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Old Trafford to claim the bragging rights over Manchester United in the derby meant that City are the only side in the division to pick up maximum points from four games.

Guardiola’s men went two to the good through goals in the first-half from Kevin De Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho, though United were handed a lifeline as Zlatan Ibrahimovic profited from Claudio Bravo’s misjudgement, but the Sky Blues held on.

That form continued on Wednesday night, with a 4-0 win against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on home soil. A hat-trick from Sergio Aguero, alongside Iheanacho’s stoppage-time strike ensured a positive start in the Champions League.

Eddie Howe takes his Cherries outfit to the North-West coming off the back of their first win of the campaign over West Bromwich Albion at the Vitality Stadium, with Callum Wilson getting the only goal of the game.

The Dorset club make the long-journey to face the free-scoring City, currently 13th in the standings, they have attained four points from their four games after a tough opening to their second season amongst England’s elite.

Their difficult start will not become any easier at the Etihad, and given the attacking prowess that their Mancunian opponents have in their ranks, Bournemouth’s back-line will be in for a busy afternoon.

Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth’s previous meeting at the Etihad Stadium occurred in October last year. Raheem Sterling’s treble, along with Wilfried Bony’s brace secured a 5-1 win.

England international Wilshere made his competitive debut for the Cherries in last weekend’s 1-0 win over West Brom – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

Team News:

Forward Aguero will serve the second of his three-match domestic suspension for violent conduct involving an incident with West Ham United’s Winston Reid.

German international midfielder Ilkay Gundogan returned from a lengthy knee injury to make his City debut in midweek, though David Silva is unlikely to be fit.

Jack Wilshere, on a season-long loan from Arsenal, is set to be a substitute again for Bournemouth. Howe is reluctant to hand a starting role the midfielder after a series of long-term injuries.

Junior Stanislas remains a doubt with a groin complaint.

League Positions: Manchester City – 1st (12pts); AFC Bournemouth – 13th (4pts)
Last Meeting: AFC Bournemouth 0-4 Manchester City – (April 2, 2016)
League Form: Manchester City – WWWW; AFC Bournemouth: LLDW
Key Men: Manchester City – Kevin de Bruyne; AFC Bournemouth – Callum Wilson
Shoot Says: Manchester City 4-1 AFC Bournemouth