Live coverage of the match will be shown on both ITV and STV, and is also available via each channel’s accompanying streaming platforms (ITVX and STV player).
Having navigated past League Two outfit Salford City and League One play-off hopefuls Leyton Orient before eliminating Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round, Manchester City face Premier League opposition for the first time. The Citizens last lifted the FA Cup just over two years ago, narrowly defeating Manchester United to clinch the second leg of a famous treble. However, the Red Devils turned the tables last season, overcoming their bitter rivals in the Wembley showpiece.
Bournemouth are yet to progress beyond the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup and reached the last eight for the first and only time during the 2020/21 campaign. After emphatically beating Championship high-flyers West Brom on home soil, the Cherries overcame Premiership duo Everton and Wolves in the fourth and fifth rounds of the competition respectively.
Both teams will fancy their chances of securing a place in the last four, although the bookies believe Pep Guardiola’s men have a slight edge over their quarter-final opponents. So, who will emerge triumphant at the Vitality this Sunday afternoon?
Bournemouth v Manchester City – key information
Date: Sunday 30th March
Kick-off time: 16.30pm
Venue: Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Referee: S. Atwell (ENG)
VAR: T. Bramall (ENG)
TV channels: ITV and STV (live stream available via ITVX and STV player)
Odds: Bournemouth – 9/4, Draw – 12/5, Manchester City – 6/5
Bournemouth v Manchester City – team news
Both teams head into the tie with considerable injury lists and were therefore appreciative of the timing of the recent international break. Given the importance of the tie, it’s likely Andoni Iraola and Pep Guardiola will field their first-choice starting XIs
Bournemouth team news
Having only recently returned from a medium-term hamstring issue, Adam Smith has faced another spell on the sidelines after sustaining a calf injury last month. While the English full-back is well on the path to recovery, it remains uncertain as to whether he’ll be fit enough to feature this weekend.
Defenders Marcos Senesi and Julián Araujo flew out to Finland to receive a progress report on their respective ongoing hamstring problems, with both players given positive news. Having been out since Bournemouth’s 4-2 victory over Wolves at Molineux back in late November, the Argentine centre-back has missed almost five months of action. Mexican international full-back Araujo has spent even longer in the treatment room, suffering an injury less than three months after joining the Cherries from Catalan giants Barcelona.
Bournemouth will also be without long-term absentee Enes Ünal, with the Turkish centre-forward set to miss the remainder of the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament back in January. Despite missing several days of training due to a thigh injury, former Leeds United attacker Luis Sinisterra is in contention to make this weekend’s fixture.
Currently navigating a patchy run of form, Andoni Iraola may decide to freshen up his team. Dango Ouattara may return to lead the line after failing to start each of the last three matches, while attacking midfielder David Brooks will be eager for further game time. The Welshman hasn’t quite found his groove following his long and ultimately successful battle with cancer, but did record two assists against West Brom earlier on in the competition. Although failing to score while on loan at Watford, Canadian marksman Daniel Jebbison has already netted twice in the FA Cup this term and therefore will expect to be involved at some stage this Sunday.
Bournemouth predicted lineup v Manchester City (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Andoni Iraola
Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK); Lewis Cook; James Hill; Dean Huijsen; Milos Kerkez; Ryan Christie; Tyler Adams; Marcus Tavernier; Justin Kluivert; Antoine Semenyo; Dango Ouattara
Manchester City team news
Pep Guardiola has faced plenty of selection headaches during an immensely underwhelming campaign, as a host of first-choice stars remain unavailable through injury.
It’s unlikely crocked duo Rodri and Oscar Bobb will return before the end of the current season, while versatile defender Manuel Akanji is out for at least a further five weeks. After being substituted midway through City’s 3-1 triumph over Plymouth Argyle in the previous round, Nathan Aké has undergone successful surgery on his foot. The Dutch international has been plagued with the same issue at various stages of his career, and will now spend the remainder of the season in recovery.
Ederson is likely to be fit, having overcome an abdominal problem picked up in the Citizens’ 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest earlier in the month. Although the Brazilian goalkeeper appears to be nearing full recovery, Pep Guardiola may opt to put Stefan Ortega between the sticks. The experienced stopper started both of City’s previous FA Cup outings, conceding once against Leyton Orient and Plymouth Argyle.
Withdrawn just before the hour mark during the reigning Premier League champions’ entertaining 2-2 draw with Brighton, Bernardo Silva had been struggling with a knock in recent weeks. However, the technically gifted midfielder appears to have now fully shaken off his injury, having played in both legs of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League meeting with Denmark.
Although question marks remain over his future at the club, midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne could be called upon. The Belgian has netted in each of his two FA Cup appearances this term, and is still a constant source of creativity. Having been an unused substitute in City’s last two Premier League encounters, Jack Grealish will be desperate for some minutes this weekend.
Manchester City predicted line-up v Bournemouth (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Pep Guardiola
Stefan Ortega (GK); Rico Lewis; Abdukodir Khusanov; Rúben Dias; Joško Gvardiol; Nico González; Bernardo Silva; Savinho; Omar Marmoush; Jérémy Doku; Erling Haaland
Where to watch on TV or live stream?
ITV will screen the first and last fixtures of the upcoming FA Cup quarter-final weekend, with viewers able to tune in to the Saturday lunchtime clash between Fulham and Crystal Palace and watch Bournemouth host Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
Online audiences can stream all the action from Craven Cottage and the Vitality Stadium using ITVX or STV player, while a host of international broadcasters are also providing live coverage of both matches.
Head-to-head record
Bournemouth have only ever beaten Manchester City on one occasion, but this victory did come in the latest meeting between the two teams. Goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson helped the Cherries secure a landmark win last November, as Pep Guardiola’s men suffered the second of five straight defeats in all competitions.
A late goal from Phil Foden settled the only previous cup clash between Sunday’s opponents back in September 2020, before City went on to seal a domestic double. Bournemouth were eliminated at the fifth-round stage of the FA Cup last term, losing to eventual Championship winners Leicester City after extra-time. Despite suffering heartbreak at Wembley last May, Manchester City are still the FA Cup’s sixth-most successful team.
After making a blistering start to the campaign, Bournemouth’s progress has somewhat stalled of late. Having only picked up one point since overcoming rock-bottom Southampton in mid-February, the Dorest-based outfit have slid down the Premier League table. Andoni Iraola will nevertheless be buoyed by the character his players demonstrated in the previous round of the cup, holding their nerve to clinch a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Wolves.
Although there has been several signs of improvement in recent weeks, Manchester City are still struggling to find any sort of momentum this term. Losses to Liverpool and Nottingham Forest bookended wins against Plymouth Argyle and Spurs, while a disappointing draw with Brighton last time out did little to enhance their top four charge.
City’s performances in the FA Cup perfectly encapsulate this pattern of inconsistency, firing eight past Salford City before experiencing major scares in subsequent meetings with Leyton Orient and Plymouth Argyle.
Odds for Bournemouth v Manchester City
The two teams have scored a combined 21 goals in FA Cup fixtures this season, and only shipped two a piece at the opposite end. While both defences have been fairly watertight, it seems likely that both Bournemouth and Manchester City will find a way onto the scoresheet given the attacking quality at their disposal.
Having seen City make a slow start against Leyton Orient and Plymouth Argyle in the previous two rounds, Bournemouth will be eager to strike an early blow on Sunday afternoon. Six of the Cherries’ eight FA Cup goals this season have come during the first half, while the Citizens conceded before the break in each of the aforementioned fixtures.
Nevertheless, the reigning Premier League champions will believe they have the wherewithal to reach a seventh consecutive FA Cup semi-final, particularly given Bournemouth’s modest record in the football’s oldest competition.
Betting tips:
Both Teams to Score (Yes) – 2/5
Bournemouth HT/Draw FT – 12/1
Manchester City to qualify (win tie via any method) – 4/6