Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth 2025/26 Premier League Bet Builder & Predictions
Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on Sunday presents a fascinating Premier League encounter between the stuttering champions and the high-flying challengers. Our football betting expert predicts the visitors will cause significant problems, forecasting a high-scoring affair, a goal from the league’s in-form striker, and a shock to the betting market.
Team News and Context
Manchester City head into this match with their spine significantly weakened.
The hosts are confirmed to be without the linchpin of their midfield, Rodri, who is ruled out with a thigh injury. His absence was keenly felt in the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, where City looked disjointed.
Compounding this issue is a major doubt over 11-goal top scorer Erling Haaland, who faces a late fitness test on a calf knock.
Without their two most important players, Pep Guardiola’s side looks vulnerable.
AFC Bournemouth, by contrast, arrive at the Etihad full of confidence, sitting second in the league table. Andoni Iraola’s side is in superb form, though they must contend with the loss of their “first-choice frontman” Evanilson, who is out with a calf injury.
The scoring burden will fall on the shoulders of Antoine Semenyo, the team’s top scorer with six goals, and the sensational Eli Junior Kroupi.
Recent Form and Previous Weekend Recap
City’s imperious nine-game unbeaten run was brought to an abrupt halt in their 1-0 loss at Villa Park last weekend. The champions looked off-colour and failed to find the net, marking a worrying dip in form as they have dropped to fifth in the table. While their home form remains strong, with a 2.25 Points Per Game (PPG) average at the Etihad, the potential loss of Haaland threatens their 2.50 goals per game home average.
The Cherries are on an impressive six-match unbeaten run (WDDWDW) following a thoroughly deserved 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. That win saw 19-year-old Eli Junior Kroupi score for the third consecutive Premier League game.
Defensively, however, they are porous on their travels, conceding 2.25 goals per away match and keeping a clean sheet in only 25% of those games.
Head to Head and Current Standings
This fixture has been historically dominated by Manchester City, who have won 17 of the 18 all-time meetings. However, Bournemouth shattered that long-standing curse in their most recent encounter, winning 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium in November 2024. That result will give the second-placed Cherries the belief that they can secure another famous result against a fifth-placed City. These matches are rarely dull, averaging 3.61 goals with Both Teams to Score landing 61% of the time.
Key Players to Watch
With Haaland a major doubt and Rodri definitively out, the onus will be on Phil Foden to provide the attacking spark for Manchester City. He will be the central figure in City’s build-up play and their most likely source of a goal from open play.
For Bournemouth, all eyes will be on Eli Junior Kroupi. The teenager is in world-class form, with four goals in his last three appearances. He will be the focal point of a Cherries attack that has impressively scored in 100% of its away matches this season.
Match Prediction and Betting Tips
This match looks far more balanced than the 1/2 odds on a home win suggest.
City are missing their two most transformative players, while Bournemouth are 2nd in the table, full of confidence, and recently proved they can beat this opponent.
The Cherries’ away games are a whirlwind of attacking football, averaging 4.25 total goals per match, and 75% of them have seen both teams score.
With City’s defensive lynchpin Rodri absent, Bournemouth will be confident of finding the net, as they have in every single away game this term.
Our football betting tips for Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth are:
Both Teams to Score (Yes) at 2/3: This looks like the banker. Bournemouth have scored in 100% of their away games but only keep a clean sheet 25% of the time on the road. With Rodri out, City are more exposed, and the visitors’ attack is prolific.
Over 2.5 Goals at 8/15: This aligns perfectly with the BTTS bet. The H2H averages 3.61 goals, and 75% of Bournemouth’s away games this season have flown over this total.
Eli Junior Kroupi to Score at 27/10: The value pick. Kroupi is arguably the most in-form striker in the league, having netted in three consecutive matches. With Evanilson out, he is the primary goal threat for a team that always scores on the road.
A win for City would be vital to keep pace with the leaders, but a draw or a shock away win for Bournemouth would cement their status as genuine contenders.
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