Bournemouth vs Manchester City Prediction: Semenyo could haunt former employers

Manchester City aim to narrow the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal as they travel to Bournemouth (19:30 BST, Sky Sports Main Event). Pep Guardiola’s men are five points behind the Gunners with a game in hand. The title is in Arsenal’s hands, but City will be keen to keep up the pressure and allow matters to be settled on the final day.

Read on for my Bournemouth vs Manchester City predictions ahead of this crunch clash.

Team News

Bournemouth saw Ryan Christie sent off in their 1-0 win at Fulham 10 days ago in their most recent Premier League outing. The Scotsman’s three-match ban will see him miss the remainder of the season.

Football Odds

Andoni Iraola has Lewis Cook and Julio Soler available for selection after recent injury concerns.

Manchester City talisman Rodri was a doubt for the FA Cup final, but the midfield genius managed 65 minutes at Wembley. The 31-year-old is likely to feature again here. 

Bournemouth vs Manchester City Odds

The Cherries are marketed at 7/2 to secure the home victory. The Cityzens are priced at 4/6 to prevail on their late-season march. The draw is up at 10/3.

Erling Haaland leads the goalscorers market as always. The Norway international is 12/5 to bag first or 5/2 to do so last. As is customary, his anytime odds are much shorter at 4/7.

Antoine Semenyo to score anytime @ 5/4

Scoring one of the great FA Cup final goals in your last outing is enough to give any player confidence. But the Ghana winger, once of this Bournemouth parish, rarely lacks self-belief.

Until recently, Semenyo was still Bournemouth’s top scorer this season despite having left in January. He has hit the ground running at the Etihad, bagging six goals in 16 games since joining up with Guardiola’s garrison.

A direct and physically-imposing runner who boasts silk in his boots, look for the 26-year-old to punish his former employers. 

Both teams to score and Man City to win @ 13/8

You have to go back to January for the last Premier League game in which Man City failed to score. Bournemouth have also found the onion bag in their last six outings. Both sides boast attacking quality in a game in which there is so much to play for.

City’s prize is obvious as they try to make Arsenal sweat over the league title. Bournemouth, meanwhile, are aiming to make their maiden voyage into European competition. 

With a real impetus to attack for both teams, I reckon we’ll see goals on either side of the equation. But I feel like City have enough run-in nous, having not lost a penultimate PL game in five years, to make it count.

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