AFC Bournemouth have never won a point away at City, but have had a track record in recent years of breaking such records under Iraola.
Last season, they won for the first time in history against the Citizens, beating them 2-1 at home, before they completed the league double over Arsenal for the first time, with their first win away at the Gunners.
They have beaten Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford in back-to-back seasons, and this term they were much the better side in a 1-0 win at Tottenham.
And the team can use those previous results, as well as their good performance in defeat at Liverpool at the start of the season as a motivator for Sunday’s game.
Iraola told the Daily Echo: “We can use these references to try to convince the players that we are not so far off getting a result against these teams.
_(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)_
“That in our highest level we can get something against these teams. We haven't done it in this stadium but we've beaten them at home.
“We've beaten teams like City home and away. So it's possible.
“They are better than us, yes, but it's not like we should be so scared. We can be competitive and for sure we can create problems for City.”
One factor that could prove to be key is keeping in form striker Erling Haaland quiet.
The Norwegian has 11 goals in the league so far this season – but City have lost the two games he has failed to score in.
However, Iraola said he has not focused specifically on Haaland in their preparations.
“I don't really care about Haaland in the sense that I know I want to win the game, not Haaland not to score,” he said.
“If he scores two and we score three, I take it. Definitely take it.
_(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)_
“It's not about only Haaland. We know that their main goal scorer is in great form. It's going to be very, very difficult to stop him. Very difficult because he's scoring most of the games.
“But it's a challenge that also we have to accept as defenders, as, as a group collectively. The problem is you focus too much on Haaland and they have tonnes of players. I think Marmoush, every time he plays against us he scores, for example.
“So it's not about, let's focus on Erling.
“They have lots of threats and that's why they are so good, because you have to cover and sometimes you have to choose the poison.
“It's almost impossible to cover everything and you have to choose where to allow them a little bit more.”
AFC Bournemouth travel to Manchester City on Sunday, November 2, kick off at 4.30pm.