Premier League: Sky Blues do Love to be Beside the Seaside!

AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester City

Manchester City’s title push continues with a Saturday evening outing to the South Coast to take on Bournemouth. And, if their previous visits to the Vitality Stadium are anything to go by, the reigning champions can expect a lovely time!

Under Pep Guardiola City have won on every one of their visits to Bournemouth and, while Andoni Iraola has been doing a good job as Cherries boss, I can’t see a change in fortunes any time soon. The Sky Blues have been clicking through the gears in recent weeks and they come into the game on the back of a 1-0 victory over Brentford, while Bournemouth earned an impressive 2-2 draw away to Newcastle United. 

It’s 13^th versus second place, there’s a huge gap between the two teams in terms of quality and depth of squad; but one thing Premier League: Bournemouth vs Manchester City will guarantee…is entertainment.     

Talking Points

Bournemouth must be brave

After a dreadful opening couple of months Andoni Iraola has turned Bournemouth’s season around and the Cherries are probably only three or four wins away from survival but, if they are to pick anything up on Saturday they need to be at their very best. With 14 goals, striker Dominic Solanke has been a revelation this term and, with the support of Antoine Semenyo, Justin Kluivert and Luis Sinisterra he can test any defence given the chance. Solanke scored the opener in Bournemouth’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle and his manager was more than disappointed that it didn’t bring a victory. Not only were the points snatched away by an injury time equaliser from Matt Ritchie, but the Magpies’ first equaliser was shrouded in controversy. Anthony Gordon converted a penalty given for Adam Smith’s tug on Fabian Schar; but there looked to be an offside which four minutes of VAR couldn’t detect. Iraola claimed VAR ‘disrespected small Bournemouth’.     

The Cherries will try to create a siege mentality, and they will have watched the highlights of City’s recent clash with Chelsea a few times. Mauricio Pochettino’s team is the first to avoid defeat to the Sky Blues since early December and they withstood an avalanche of 31 shots. And the Blues struck when they saw a chink of weakness in the City defence. Midfielder Rodri, who scored the Sky Blues’ equaliser said: “We conceded another easy goal. I think we have to defend better.”  

In reality the Bournemouth vs Manchester City betting odds don’t give the Cherries much hope, so how can Iraola’s men themselves a chance?

Firstly, when the opportunity comes Bournemouth must take it. Then they need to defend for their lives and have a healthy slice of good luck, as Chelsea will testify.

The Sky is the limit for Foden  

While Erling Haaland has 17 goals this season and Kevin De Bruyne has made a spectacular return from injury; there is another player who has been getting rave reviews in recent weeks; and that is 23-year-old attacking midfielder Phil Foden. The local lad is a fans favourite and his performances have been world class this season and he has accumulated eight goals and seven assists so far. The England man has everything, poise on the ball with brilliant feet, superb passing and a ruthless streak; when in full flow he glides across the surface and can be unplayable. After he scored a hat-trick in earlier win over Brentford, early in February, the Bees boss Thomas Frank said Foden could well be a future Ballon D’Or winner and Frank is an excellent judge of a player. 

City’s other creative genius, De Bruyne, sat out the 1-0 win on Tuesday as Haaland scored the only goal of the game. The Belgian megastar has had lengthy absences with a hamstring injury and Guardiola revealed De Bruyne felt some tightness and so he wasn’t risked. He may be available on Saturday but the continued good form of Bernardo Silva, as well as Foden, means the City boss will not rush De Bruyne back.       

History

Cherries fans look away now!

The head-to-head Bournemouth vs Manchester City results read 0 to 14 …and there have been no draws. In 2023 the Sky Blues dismantled the Cherries 4-1 at the Vitality Stadium and, earlier this season Guardiola’s men whacked Iraola’s team 6-1 at the Etihad Stadium as Jeremy Doku scored one goal and made four assists.  

And there isn’t much more encouragement for the hosts when you look at recent form, with Bournemouth winning just one of the last six, while City have won five and drawn one.   

Betting Tip

A Bournemouth win at 5.99, a draw at 4.50 and even the Double Chance, priced at 2.77 is probably the option for optimistic Cherries fans or maybe supporters of Liverpool and Arsenal; while I’m looking for more risk than a City victory at SBOTOP odds of 1.35. And for a correct score, 0-2 at odds of 7.72 is my long shot alternative.   

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.