Manchester City host Bournemouth in a crucial game in their push for UEFA Champions League football next season.
The beaten FA Cup finalists need four points from their last two games to effectively guarantee a top five place, due to their superior goal difference to Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Chelsea.
It’s important for another reason, as City say goodbye to the departing legend Kevin de Bruyne in his final appearance at the Etihad Stadium, whilst it could be the end for the likes of Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Ederson and John Stones too.
Here are five things to look out for in City’s final home match of the season:
One last moment of magic from KDB
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
It’s De Bruyne’s final home game, and he’ll be looking to bow out on a high.
The Belgian has won six Premier League trophies at City, along with a Champions League, five Carabao Cups, two FA Cups and a Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Individually, he’s won the PFA Player of the Year Award twice, as well as recording the second highest number of assists of all time in the Premier League on top of 73 goals scored.
He’ll undoubtedly play, even if just for 30 seconds, so as to give him a fitting send off in a Manchester City shirt and let him say goodbye to the fans at the Etihad Stadium in the way he does best - playing football and hopefully winning the game for City.
Gundogan coming back into the side
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
In the 1-0 defeat to Palace last time out in the FA Cup final, City really lacked anyone who can get things moving on the edge of the box.
Ilkay Gundogan makes City tick and can engage with the patient football, but he has other game changing qualities too.
He’s a capable box crasher, and whilst we haven’t seen it as often this season in a less functioning team it’s a skill he’s got in his locker.
His experience and leadership skills are also valuable in a big game; for me, it was baffling that he didn’t start the FA Cup final over someone such as Savinho or Jeremy Doku who have shown they’ve struggled in big games and to provide more balance to the midfield.
I want Gundogan to start, and I definitely think he will if Mateo Kovacic isn’t fit, as the Blues have tended to thrive with him in the team recently.
More minutes for Echeverri?
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
The surprise of the FA Cup final was not just that teenager Claudio Echeverri was named on the substitutes bench ahead of the likes of James McAtee and Rico Lewis, but that he came on.
I’ve been critical of fans who saw him - a 19-year-old squad player for River Plate who had never played any senior European football before - as the solution, but admittedly he did slot in nicely against Crystal Palace.
He was energetic and reasonably tidy with the ball, but was unable to make any real impact against the Eagles, though on his debut and with every other player on the pitch more established and experienced than him, who can blame him?
I’d like to see him start on the bench over McAtee, who’s almost certainly on his way out, again, and especially if things are looking good for City, I’d like him to get another few minutes, this time in front of a home crowd.
Threat posed by Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth have had an excellent season, playing positive attacking football and seeing the emergence of some of the brightest attackers in the Premier League.
Justin Kluivert is one of those. Son of former Barcelona player Patrick, he’s scored two hattricks this season and is an excellent ball carrier and finisher - exactly the type of player City have struggled to contain this season.
Antoine Semenyo is a dangerous winger, who, it turns out, has a massive throw on him too. And up front, Evanilson has already scored two goals against City this season and will be looking to add to that.
The Blues have been looking better defensively of late, keeping six clean sheets in their last nine games, but Bournemouth’s attack will still cause plenty of issues.
A win effectively securing top five
Manchester City FC v Aston Villa FC - Premier League Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images
City know that four points, taking them up to 69 points, will be enough to secure a Champions League place for next season barring a goal difference miracle.
City would need all three of Aston Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle to win and to overcome their superior goal difference (in Villa’s case, that being a fifteen goal swing.)
And I think Chelsea, who play Forest on the last day of the season, could easily draw that game, in which case three points from the remaining two games would be enough for City.
If Enzo Maresca’s side lose at the City Ground, it would again come down to goal difference and in all likelihood favour City.
So if City can go out and get three points, go out on a high note and finish De Bruyne’s legacy off in style, it’ll mean they’re in a very, very good position to finish in the top five heading into the final day of the Premier League season.