Strong rumours have circulated ahead of kick-off that Pep Guardiola will leave the club at the end of the campaign, so the jolt that this will have undoubtedly given his players will surely see to it that they give absolutely everything in these final two matches.
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Bournemouth's outside chance of UCL qualification
The Cherries will wave goodbye to their own manager, Andoni Iraola, this summer, too, and with six points still to play for, they have an outside chance of making the Champions League.
Even if the premier European competition remains out of reach, the Europa League is a distinct possibility at this stage, representing an outstanding season for the south coast side.
They could be up against it, given they've lost 16 of the 17 Premier League fixtures played against City, although the one they did win came at home last season under Iraola.
That's given Guardiola's side a win rate of 94.1%, which is the highest one club has over another in Premier League history, for teams that have played each other on at least 10 occasions.
Both sides on epic unbeaten runs
Furthermore, Bournemouth have lost their final league game at home in four of the last six seasons, and City have only lost two of their final away matches in the last 16 seasons (W11, D3) - though they both came in the last five campaigns (Brighton in 2020/21 and Brentford in 2022/23).
There is still hope for the Cherries, however.
They're unbeaten in their last 16 Premier League games, which is the longest run of any team in the division this season, and have also won four of their last five matches. That's as many wins as they'd managed in the previous 22 games (D12, L6).
City have also lost three of their last four matches played down on the south coast, as many defeats as in their previous 24 matches against either Bournemouth, Brighton, and Southampton (W18, D3), but they are also on a long unbeaten run of 14 games.
Haaland remains danger man for City
Both sides have players in great goalscoring form, too.
For the hosts, Rayan has scored in his last three games, and the talented teen stands on the verge of history if he can find the net against the Cityzens.
That's because only Robbie Fowler in 1994/95 (three times), Nicolas Anelka in 1998/99 (twice), and Francis Jeffers (in August/September 2000) have scored in four Premier League games in a row as teenagers.
For the visitors, Erling Haaland remains their focal point in attack, and 25/26 has been another campaign of rich pickings for the Norwegian.
He already has 15 goal involvements away from the Etihad Stadium in the current season (11 goals and four assists), with only Sergio Aguero (19 in 2014/15 and 17 in 2016/17) managing more.
Semenyo faces his old side
Jeremy Doku has also come into his own of late, with three goals and one assist in his last three away games. That's only one less involvement than in his previous 38 matches not played at the Etihad (two goals, three assists).
Not to mention that Antoine Semenyo, hero in the weekend's FA Cup final, will face his old team having already been on target for his new employers on 10 occasions, whilst also supplying three assists.
Indeed, his five FA Cup goal involvements this season are more than any of his teammates, and with his late, cheeky backheel, which Chelsea custodian Robert Sanchez had no chance of saving, he became the first Ghana international to score in the end-of-season domestic showpiece.
Both teams have won four and drawn one of their last five games in all competitions, and the fact that both also have something to play for should make this an intoxicating watch from beginning to end.
Title send-off would be perfect for Pep
Arsenal have to travel to Crystal Palace on the final day of the season, which may well prove problematic for the Gunners, whilst City host Aston Villa, a team coming off the back of the Europa League final, and who were beaten at exactly this stage in 2022, despite being 2-0 up against City with only 14 minutes to play.
Of course, having already won both cups this season, City are on course to do the domestic treble if they're able to pip the North Londoners at the post.
If Guardiola is to leave for either pastures new or a sabbatical, surely another Premier League title and the way it would have been achieved will be the perfect way for the Catalan to sign off in Manchester.
