Manchester City will be hoping their Community Shield no-show is not a sign of things to come as they prepare to welcome Bournemouth to the Etihad for their Premier League opener.
Enzo Maresca's first game in charge could not have gone much worse, with City deservedly losing 3-0 to Arsenal in Cardiff.
He will be looking for an immediate response in this Premier League opener, with the Cherries a team the Citizens have a soft spot for playing against.
Manchester City v Bournemouth Tips Summary
Best Bet - Asian Handicap - Bournemouth +1.0, +1.5 @ 1.850
Alternative Bet - Total Goals/BTTS - Over 2.5 & Yes @ 4/5
Bet Builder - Gianluigi Donnarumma 2+ saves, Djordje Petrovic 4+ saves, Evanilson 1+ shot, Over 11 corners @ 11/2
Manchester City v Bournemouth Prediction
Best Bet: Asian Handicap - Bournemouth +1.0, +1.5 @ 1.850
It is easy to assume that City get it right this time, having made a mess of their Community Shield clash with the Gunners last weekend.
They were deservedly beaten 3-0 in their first game post-Pep Guardiola and have to pick themselves up for the challenge of Bournemouth, who are also under new management themsleves, with Marco Rose at the helm.
Bournemouth signed off last season in fabulous form, on a 19-game unbeaten run though that, of course, was the work of Andoni Iraola.
It was Iraola versus Guardiola when these sides met in Dorset in May, a game that ended 1-1.
Now it's Maresca versus Rose and that in itself adds to the notion that this game might not be entirely predictable.
City are too short given what happened last week, given the change at the top and given that the Cherries are a very decent side.
So, consider a look at the underdogs on the Asian Handicap where they are 1.875 +1.0, +1.5.
You are paid out as winner if Bournemouth win or draw and are paid out on half your stakes with the other half refunded if they lose by one goal.
Alternative Bet: Total Goals/Both Teams to Score - Over 2.5/Yes @ 4/5
The nine Premier League meetings between these clubs at the Etihad - all City wins, incidentally - have produced the grand total of 40 goals.
Both teams have scored in six of those nine games; indeed both teams have scored in 10 of the last 12 fixtures between these clubs at all venues.
City will have to be positive and Rose, similar to Iraola in outlook, has to be confident his team can carve out chances as the hosts commit bodies forward.
It could be fun, it should have goals and probably at both ends.
Manchester City v Bournemouth Bet Builder Tip
Gianluigi Donnarumma 2+ saves
Djordje Petrovic 4+ saves
Evanilson 1+ shot
Over 11 corners
Pays 11/2
Gianluigi Donnarumma had to make two or more saves in 17 of his last 22 league games for City last season and he made two in the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth as questions raged over the quality of the Citizens' defence.
Those questions still remain, so expect the Italian to have to make at least two saves.
If Donnarumma is busy then so too will be Djordje Petrovic, who made four saves - as did Donnarumma - in Bournemouth's 3-1 loss at City last season.
For the first two legs of the Bet Builder, take Donnarumma to make at least two saves and Petrovic to make at least four.
For leg three, Evanilson to have at least one shot. The Brazilian loves a shot - 72 in total last term. He only scored six times, so it's his execution not his keenness that's the problem.
Finally, this fixture produced 27 corners last season, 14 at the Etihad. Take over 11 corners to round off the Bet Builder.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
City have won their last 11 home games against Bournemouth in all competitions by an aggregate scoreline of 38-8
Bournemouth finished last season on a 19-match unbeaten run, a sequence that included a 1-1 draw with City at the Vitality Stadium
Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland has scored 22 goals in 14 Premier League matches in the month of August
Bournemouth and City's two meetings last season produced a total of 27 corners
City are three matches without a win; they last went four without a win in December 2024
The Citizens have won their opening league game in 14 of the last 15 seasons
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
