If Manchester City fail to beat Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday evening, the Sky Blues could be condemned to an unfamiliar runners-up finish in the Premier League table.
The Sky Blues remain two points adrift of leaders Arsenal with two games left to play, but the Gunners will go five points clear on Monday night if they pick up an expected win over already-relegated Burnley.
Should Mikel Arteta's men indeed prevail, Man City would have to follow suit on the South Coast to keep their title hopes alive until the final day; a draw or defeat would hand the crown to Pep Guardiola's former protege.
However, hosts Bournemouth - on an incredible 16-game unbeaten run - are still fighting for their Champions League chances, as Andoni Iraola's team are just four points off fifth-placed Liverpool with a game in hand.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between Bournemouth and Man City.
Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 25
Bournemouth wins: 1
Draws: 2
Man City wins: 22
Manchester City's record against Bournemouth is nothing short of exceptional, as they have won an impressive 22 times and have drawn two of their 25 meetings with the Cherries across all competitions.
Bournemouth failed to win any of their first 21 encounters with the Citizens, including each of their first 20 league meetings, the most one side has ever faced another without ever winning in English Football League history.
However, the Cherries celebrated their first triumph over Man City in November 2024, when Andoni Iraola's side secured an impressive 2-1 home victory in the Premier League courtesy of goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson, but the Sky Blues have since taken revenge with three consecutive wins against Bournemouth.
Bournemouth and Man City butted heads for the very first time back in December 1987 when the Citizens won 2-0 away from home in the old Division Two, before securing maximum points in the reverse fixture by the same scoreline two months later.
Man City won each of their first 14 Premier League meetings with Bournemouth, following the Cherries' promotion to the top flight in 2015, by an aggregate score of 45-7 - the best 100% record any team has had against another in English top-flight history.
The Citizens scored four or more goals in seven Premier League games against Bournemouth during this run, including a thumping 6-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium in November 2023 - their biggest-ever win over the Cherries to date.
The most recent meeting between these two clubs took place in November 2025 when Man City secured a 3-1 home victory over Bournemouth in the Premier League courtesy of a brace from Haaland and a goal from O'Reilly.
Raheem Sterling is the highest-scoring player in this fixture with nine goals in as many Premier League games for Man City, while Phil Foden and Sergio Aguero are next on the list with five goals each.
Last 20 meetings
Nov 2, 2025: Man City 3-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
May 20, 2025: Man City 3-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Mar 30, 2025: Bournemouth 1-2 Man City (FA Cup Quarter-Finals)
Nov 2, 2024: Bournemouth 2-1 Man City (Premier League)
Feb 24, 2024: Bournemouth 0-1 Man City (Premier League)
Nov 04, 2023: Man City 6-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Feb 25, 2023: Bournemouth 1-4 Man City (Premier League)
Aug 13, 2022: Man City 4-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Sep 24, 2020: Man City 2-1 Bournemouth (EFL Cup Third Round)
Jul 15, 2020: Man City 2-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Aug 25, 2019: Bournemouth 1-3 Man City (Premier League)
Mar 02, 2019: Bournemouth 0-1 Man City (Premier League)
Dec 01, 2018: Man City 3-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Dec 23, 2017: Man City 4-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Aug 26, 2017: Bournemouth 1-2 Man City (Premier League)
Feb 13, 2017: Bournemouth 0-2 Man City (Premier League)
Sep 17, 2016: Man City 4-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Apr 02, 2016: Bournemouth 0-4 Man City (Premier League)
Oct 17, 2015: Man City 5-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Feb 13, 1999: Bournemouth 0-0 Man City (Second Division)
Last 10 Premier League meetings
Nov 2, 2025: Man City 3-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
May 20, 2025: Man City 3-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Nov 2, 2024: Bournemouth 2-1 Man City (Premier League)
Feb 24, 2024: Bournemouth 0-1 Man City (Premier League)
Nov 04, 2023: Man City 6-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Feb 25, 2023: Bournemouth 1-4 Man City (Premier League)
Aug 13, 2022: Man City 4-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Jul 15, 2020: Man City 2-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Aug 25, 2019: Bournemouth 1-3 Man City (Premier League)
Mar 02, 2019: Bournemouth 0-1 Man City (Premier League)