Manchester City vs. Bournemouth Prediction, Picks & Odds for Sunday's Premier League Match
It's a new era for the Citizens, with Enzo Maresca taking the reins in Manchester. My Manchester City vs. Bournemouth prediction looks at what we should expect from a squad that looked toothless in the Community Shield but has been a dominant force for the last decade.
Manchester City is a -209 betting favorite on the three-way line, with the draw priced at +350 and visiting Bournemouth at a distant +525. Kickoff from the Etihad in Manchester, England, is set for 9 a.m. ET, airing on USA Network and Telemundo.
⚽ Manchester City vs. Bournemouth predictions & best bets
See our experts' soccer picks.
| 💰 Best bets | 📊 Best odds | ⚖️ Wager (units) |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester City Over 17.5 shots | -120 via bet365 | 0.5 units to profit 0.42 units |
| Bournemouth Over 10.5 shots | +150 via bet365 | 0.5 units to profit 0.75 units |
| Manchester City Over 2.5 goals | +120 via bet365 | 0.25 units to profit 0.22 units |
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💰 Manchester City vs. Bournemouth best bet
Check out all of our soccer betting analysis and expert predictions this season.
Manchester City Over 17.5 shots (-120)
Aggravatingly, this line moved while I was researching the article, from Over 16.5 (-125) to Over 17.5 (-120), and in turn I ditched a quarter unit from my recommendation above. Bummer.
But, the underlying facts remain the same. While many faces are gone from last year, and Maresco is on the bench instead of Pep, this is projected XI that is loaded with talent and full of players that last year averaged 16.42 shots per game at home. After dropping the Community Shield to Arsenal last week, City will be looking to get back on track in a meaningful way and start the season on the front foot.
City should have the bulk of possession, and Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, Phil Foden, and Rayan Cherki aren't scared to fire away.
🆚 Who will win Manchester City vs. Bournemouth?
Bournemouth isn't in the same class as city, no matter which manager is patrolling the sidelines for the Citizens. And it's not as though there hasn't been change for Bournemouth, as Marco Rose is now the manager after Andoni Iraola left for Liverpool in the offseason.
But the star power is just too much for Manchester, especially with Junior Kroupi missing for the Cherries.
Score prediction: Manchester City 3, Bournemouth 1
🔥 More Manchester City vs. Bournemouth expert picks
Bournemouth Over 10.5 shots (+150)
My biggest concern here isn't Manchester, it's that Rose is the new manager for Bournemouth. The Cherries averaged 13.21 away shots last season, and Manchester's midfield changes (Rodri gone, Anderson making his first PL start) should give enough room for Bournemouth to produce some offense.
Rayan looked explosive in the second half of the last PL season, and Evanilson is always a threat. In a game they're likely to be chasing, Bournemouth won't have the luxury to sit back - they're going to need to push to have any chance at all of staying in this one.
Manchester City Over 2.5 goals (+120)
It needs to be a statement game for City after losing the Community Shield. Facing Bournemouth isn't the same as playing Arsenal, so I expect the offense to round into form. They hit target four times in that one, and I suspect they'll be good for six on Sunday. I think from even six shots on goal, City should be able to net three of them.
The same list of players I listed above that aren't scared of shooting also don't mind scoring, and Haaland is probably the best striker in the Prem, so he's always a risk for one or two. And that list didn't include Nico O'Reilly, who is about as nine-coded as any defender in the league is, and will be a threat on every single set piece that ends up in the box.
⚖️ Manchester City vs. Bournemouth key stats
| Manchester City | Bournemouth | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 23-9-6 | 13-18-7 |
| Home/Away Record | 14-3-2 | 6-8-5 |
| Goals for (xG) | 77 (71.6 xG) | 58 (61.9 xG) |
| Goals against (xGA) | 35 (44.2 xGA) | 54 (56.8 xGA) |
| Average possession | 60.5% | 50.1% |
📊 Manchester City vs. Bournemouth odds
🆚 Manchester City vs. Bournemouth projected lineups
Here are the projected lineups for Manchester City vs. Bournemouth; subject to change:
| Manchester City (4-2-3-1) | Bournemouth (4-2-3-1) |
|---|---|
| Donnarumma (GK) | Petrovic (GK) |
| Khusanov (D) | Smith (D) |
| Dias (D) | Hill (D) |
| Gvardiol (D) | Silva (D) |
| O'Reilly (D) | Truffert (D) |
| Kovacic (M) | Scott (M) |
| Anderson (M) | Cook (M) |
| Cherki (M) | Rayan (M) |
| Foden (M) | Kluivert (M) |
| Semenyo (M) | Tavernier (M) |
| Haaland (F) | Evanilson (F) |
📺 How to watch Manchester City vs. Bournemouth
- Date: Sunday, Aug. 23
- Kickoff: 9 a.m. ET
- Location: Etihad Stadium (Manchester, England)
- TV/Streaming: USA Network, Telemundo
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