MAN CITY VS BOURNEMOUTH: PREVIEW
- Bobby Vincent
- Nov 30, 2018
- 2 min read
Saturday 01 December - 15:00 - Etihad Stadium
TEAM NEWS
Manchester City will have to assess Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus, who all missed Tuesday night's draw with Lyon in the Champions League.
Kevin de Bruyne, Benjamin Mendy and Claudio Bravo are all long-term absentees, who remain unavailable.
Bournemouth's Dan Gosling is doubtful after injuring his knee against Arsenal, but the problem is not thought to be as serious as first feared.
Fellow midfielder Jefferson Lerma is unavailable through suspension after picking up five yellow cards already this season.
THE MANAGERS
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has demanded his players to keep the same level of performance as they enter the hectic schedule of the Premier League season.
"When we are not able to win the games, people will say we cannot keep the standard but we have been at the same level for the last 15 months so I don't have any reason to think we will not be who we are.
"That doesn't mean win or lose but the way we approach the games, I don't see any signals to see we are not going to try and be who we are."
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has acknowledged that City are the side they struggle most against, but says he sees the game as a "positive challenge".
"We know it will be hard as City are the side we've struggled the most against, but I see the game more as a positive challenge than a negative one.
"It isn't damage limitation for us, but it is an opportunity to create a historic moment for the football club and do our best in the game.
"Our record doesn't sound great but I think that is for most teams going to Manchester City in recent seasons.
"But every time we have gone there we have really grown and learnt from the experiences although they have been painful."
MATCH STATS
Manchester City have won the six previous Premier League meetings between the two sides, scoring 21 goals and only conceding twice.
Bournemouth have never beaten Manchester City in a competitive game (D2, L10).
City have conceded just the one goal from open play this season, in September with DeAndre Yedlin scoring for Newcastle.
Raheem Sterling has scored in all five of his Premier League games with Bournemouth, scoring seven in total.
All but one of Sergio Aguero's last 19 Premier League goals have been scored at the Etihad Stadium.
BETTING ODDS
Manchester City: 1/9
Draw: 10/1
AFC Bournemouth: 25/1
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