On Sunday afternoon, Enzo Maresca will oversee the first Premier League match of a new era for Manchester City as they welcome Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium.
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For the first time in 10 years, Manchester City head into a Premier League campaign without their legendary manager Pep Guardiola on the touchline. For some, there is a feeling of anticipation. For others, doubt. However you look at it, Sunday marks the beginning of a new era at the Etihad Stadium.
Pre-season preparations concluded with a 3-0 defeat to Premier League title holders Arsenal at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Mikel Arteta's side took the lead after just 23 seconds, as Riccardo Calafiori sent Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way with a close-range strike. Just before the half-hour mark, Kai Havertz doubled their advantage, and fate was sealed when Martin Odegaard slipped through the defence, dummying a shot right, and slotting it home left.
Defeat always hurts, but this team knows better than any other that a loss in the Community Shield is far from season-defining. Manchester City must now look to enter this transitional era on the front foot as they seek revenge on the team that brought their title hopes to an end last season: Bournemouth.
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The Cherries' pre-season record is as close to identical to City's as can be. Two wins, one draw, and a defeat to round things off. Much like the Blues, they come into this season with a new manager as Marco Rose takes charge. They are currently 18 matches undefeated in the Premier League - a run that Enzo Maresca will hope to bring to an end this weekend.
As always, here is everything you need to know ahead of Manchester City's season opener against Bournemouth!
Match Details
Manchester City will host Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday 23 August, with kick-off scheduled for 14:00 (UK).
Match Officials
Jarred Gillett will referee his 14th Manchester City match on Sunday afternoon, the last being January's 0-0 draw at Sunderland in the Premier League.
The full list of match officials can be found below!
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Team News
Reports in Belgium this week have indicated that Jeremy Doku has been ruled out for this weekend's clash with Bournemouth owing to a calf injury sustained during the first-half of the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
Elsewhere, Matheus Nunes is thought to have picked up a knock in the warm-up ahead of the Arsenal game, however he is not ruled out of contention at this stage.
Savinho also missed out on the Arsenal match and while his absence was officially due to illness, a move to Tottenham is expected to be completed in the coming hours and days. As such, the expectation is that he will not be involved this weekend for the club.
Omar Marmoush was another player to take a heavy hit in the closing stages of the Community Shield and is now a major fitness doubt. However, with a move to Tottenham also reportedly on the cards for the Egyptian, any involvement could be unlikely.
Ryan McAidoo missed out on the last match after sustaining a shoulder injury during pre-season and, after a hugely promising start to the 2026/27 campaign in Hong Kong and South Korea, if fit then he is thought to be available.
Bournemouth will be missing Julian Araujo (thigh injury) and Eli Junior Kroupi (foot injury), while Veljko Milosavljevic, David Brooks, Amine Adli, and Tyler Adams are all fitness doubts, but may still feature in the clash.
Press Conference
Enzo Maresca is due to speak to the media from 13:30 (UK) on Friday afternoon.
The main highlights from media duties will be available here soon after.
Refresh for updates.
Head to Head
The two sides have faced off a total of 26 times, with their first meeting taking place back in 1987.
In that time, Manchester City have won 23 times, with just two draws and a defeat. That singular defeat came in 2024, with Bournemouth winning 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium. Over those 26 matches, City have won by an aggregate score of 63-19 - highlighting the Blues' dominance in this fixture across the years.
That dominance has been even more evident on home soil, where City have only failed to win once. That sole exception came back in 1989, when the two sides played out a 3-3 draw at Maine Road in League Two.
Aside from that meeting, the Blues have won every single home fixture against Bournemouth, giving them an overwhelmingly strong record ahead of the Cherries' visit to the Etihad Stadium.
Last time out, Bournemouth brought an end to Manchester City's title hopes with a 1-1 draw in the penultimate match of the season. Despite that disappointment, the Blues' remarkable record in this fixture means they will head into Sunday's meeting looking to reassert their dominance over the Cherries.
Statistics
Manchester City have scored three or more in eight of their nine home Premier League fixtures against Bournemouth.
Bournemouth's 2024 win was the first and only time that they have scored more than one against Manchester City in the Premier League.
Bournemouth have only taken points off City on two occasions in the Premier League.
Manchester City have scored an average of 2.85 goals a game against the Cherries in the Premier League, they have conceded an average of 0.7.
There has only been one goalless draw in this fixture's history, back in 1999.
Where To Watch
Those watching in the UK will be able to tune in on Sky Sports Main Event, with radio coverage available on BBC Radio Manchester.
Viewers in the USA can catch the game on FuboTV and USA Network.
A full overview of TV listings can be found here!
City Xtra will have full live coverage available on X, Facebook and Instagram throughout the matchday, with content also on cityxtra.co.uk!