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Preview: Man City vs Bournemouth

The upcoming Premier League fixture between Manchester City and Bournemouth is a clash between two teams with contrasting fortunes. Man City are eyeing another title challenge, while Bournemouth are fighting for survival. Both teams have had a mixed bag of results in the previous fixtures and will be looking to make a statement in this game. Here is a preview of the upcoming match.

Form Guide

Manchester City are in good form, with four consecutive wins in the league. Their recent victories include a 2-0 triumph over Crystal Palace and a comfortable 5-0 win against Newcastle United. The Citizens have also been impressive in the Champions League, securing a spot in the knockout stages with two games to spare.

In contrast, Bournemouth have won just one of their last nine Premier League games. They suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in their last outing, leaving them in the relegation zone.

Head-to-Head

Manchester City has a dominant record over Bournemouth in recent years, winning eight of the last nine meetings between the teams. The most recent meeting between the two sides resulted in a comfortable 2-1 victory for the Citizens at the Etihad Stadium. Bournemouth's only victory over Manchester City came back in 2015, when they secured a memorable 2-1 win in the League Cup.

Team News

Manchester City will be without the services of striker Sergio Aguero, who is still recovering from injury. However, manager Pep Guardiola has an array of attacking talent to choose from, including Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Phil Foden, and Riyad Mahrez.

Bournemouth will be without the injured David Brooks and Junior Stanislas. Defender Steve Cook is also a doubt for the match, while midfielder Jefferson Lerma will be absent due to suspension.

Key Battles

Raheem Sterling vs Diego Rico: Sterling has been in impressive form for Manchester City this season, scoring six goals and providing two assists in the league. He is likely to come up against Diego Rico, who has been a standout performer for Bournemouth this season. The Spanish left-back has made 32 tackles and 39 interceptions in the league this season, and will need to be at his best to keep Sterling quiet.

Harry Wilson vs Rodri: Wilson has been one of the few bright sparks for Bournemouth this season, scoring four goals and providing two assists in the league. He is likely to come up against Rodri, who has been a key player for Manchester City this season. The Spanish midfielder has made 49 interceptions and 18 tackles in the league this season, and will be tasked with halting Wilson's threat.

Prediction

Manchester City will be favorites to win this game, given their form and record against Bournemouth. However, Bournemouth will be desperate for points as they look to climb out of the relegation zone. While the Cherries may provide some resistance, it's hard to predict anything other than a comfortable Manchester City win – 3-0 to the Citizens.