Liam Garcia
Dailysports's expert
On May 20, 2025, the Etihad Stadium in Manchester will host a Matchweek 37 clash in the English Premier League between Manchester City and Bournemouth. For this fixture, I suggest a combined bet with strong chances of success.
Manchester City
Last weekend, Manchester City missed their final opportunity to claim silverware this season. Pep Guardiola's side suffered a narrow defeat in the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace — 0:1. For the Eagles, it marked the club's first major achievement in history, while for City, this loss capped off what is arguably their most disappointing campaign in the past 15 years.
The season could end in outright failure for the Citizens if they fail to secure a Champions League spot. Still, even in this situation, there’s room for maneuver. England has received five Champions League berths for next season, and City, with a game in hand, are currently sixth, just one point behind Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Newcastle. A win in the upcoming fixture would lift them straight to third, and in the final round, a draw away at Fulham would be enough to qualify for the UCL.
However, the team's form raises serious concerns. The cup final defeat was preceded by a lackluster display at Southampton, where City failed to overcome one of the league’s strugglers — 0:0. Across their last three matches, Guardiola’s men have scored just once, despite posting a combined expected goals (xG) value of 4.84. The team continues to create chances, but their finishing has been well below par.
Bournemouth
For Bournemouth, this season is winding down without any major objectives left to chase. After Manchester City’s FA Cup final defeat, the eighth-place finish in the Premier League — which Iraola’s men are still fighting for — has lost its previous significance. While that spot once offered a potential route to European football, now it’s simply a mark of a prestigious finish. Crystal Palace’s victory not only earned the Eagles their first major trophy but also secured them a Europa League place, closing the window of opportunity for their rivals. In this context, the upcoming trip to the Etihad loses much of its competitive edge — Bournemouth will take to the field free of pressure and without calculations, just to play football.
That said, even without headline-grabbing results, Bournemouth’s season can be deemed a success. The team played bold, modern football that didn’t go unnoticed: both players and the manager have drawn interest from top European clubs. Young defender Dean Huijsen has reportedly already sealed a move to Real Madrid for over €50 million. Left-back Milos Kerkez is attracting attention from Liverpool, while Illya Zabarnyi and Antoine Semenyo are on the shortlists of several Premier League and continental clubs. And the chief architect of this Bournemouth side, Andoni Iraola, is seriously being considered for coaching roles at higher-profile clubs — and by the quality of his work, he truly deserves a step up.
The team’s recent form is worthy of respect: just one defeat in their last six matches, and that came against ambitious Aston Villa (0:1). That stretch also includes three draws and two wins, highlighted by a sensational away victory over Arsenal — 2:1. Bournemouth are finishing the season strongly, and, crucially, with a solid foundation for the next stage of their development.
Probable lineups
- Manchester City: Ederson, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Riley, Silva, Kovacic, Savio, De Bruyne, Doku, Haaland
- Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga, Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Cook, Adams, Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier, Evanilson
Match facts and H2H
- Only one of Manchester City’s recent matches has seen over 2.5 goals — the team has hit a dry spell in terms of scoring.
- City have won their last four home league games, showing strong consistency at the Etihad.
- Bournemouth have kept just one clean sheet in their last six away fixtures.
- Bournemouth have only failed to score once in their last fifteen away matches.
- The sides have already met twice this season. In the first round, Bournemouth beat Manchester City at home 2:1, but in the FA Cup quarterfinals, also at Bournemouth’s ground, City prevailed — again 2:1 in favor of the Citizens.
- Manchester City have won all nine head-to-heads at Etihad Stadium against Bournemouth.
- The last time these teams met in Manchester, the hosts cruised to a 6:1 victory.
Prediction
I expect an open, high-scoring encounter. Bournemouth are playing with freedom and can put up a fight, while City need nothing less than a win to stay in the Champions League race. Given the motivation and playing styles, the bet "Man City to win & over 2.5 goals" at odds of 1.95 looks like a smart choice.
