Manchester City vs Bournemouth predictions: City's attacking frustrations to continue
&w=707&quality=100)
- Manchester City lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace on Saturday
- Bournemouth's last five games have produced just seven goals
- Recommended bet: Under 2.5 goals
Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium ended Manchester City's chances of winning a major trophy this season but they cannot afford to take their foot off the pedal in the Premier League.
The Citizens are down in sixth spot, a point behind Aston Villa in fifth, but have a game in hand over their rivals above them because of the cup final and a win against Bournemouth on Tuesday would lift them back into the Champions League places.
The prospect of City not playing in Europe's premier club competition next season would have been unthinkable at the start of the season and Guardiola's side will be desperate to avoid that embarrassment.
But visitors Bournemouth are well-coached under Andoni Iraola and should not be taken lightly by the hosts.
Team news
Manchester City remain without Rodri, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Oscar Bobb, while Mateo Kovacic is a doubt after missing the FA Cup final through injury.
The likes of Nico Gonzalez, Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan and Matheus Nunes could be in line for starts, having been on the bench at Wembley.
There is a familiar feel to Bournemouth's list of absentees with Luis Sinisterra, Dango Ouattara, Ryan Christie, Alex Scott and Enes Unal all unavailable.
The stats
&w=707&quality=100)
Bournemouth's Premier League matches have averaged 2.72 goals per game this season and that average drops to just 2.13 across their last eight matches.
Five of Manchester City's last six assignments have produced under 2.5 goals and both teams have scored in just one of those fixtures.
Pep Guardiola's side have failed to score in six Premier League matches this season — the most league blanks they have drawn in a single campaign since the 2015-16 season.
The Cherries lost 1-0 to Aston Villa last time out but that was their only defeat in their last six games.
Prediction
Guardiola deployed an attacking side against Crystal Palace in Saturday's FA Cup final and yet City could not convert their dominance on the ball into goals.
Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush, Savio, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden all featured in the game but there was still a lack of attacking edge from the Citizens.
And following the shock 0-0 draw with Southampton in the game before, it means they have had 49 shots across their last two matches without finding the net.
Guardiola will do everything he can to ensure City do not draw a third successive blank but they could still face some resistance from the Cherries.
Bournemouth have looked capable defensively this season with their goals conceded tally of 43 in 36 matches identical to City's.
But they too have struggled in front of goal recently, failing to score in a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa in their last league match, despite playing the last 10 minutes or so with an extra man.
That combination of a pretty tight defence but stuttering attack has meant four of Bournemouth's last five fixtures have featured under 2.5 goals and that looks a worthwhile option in this game at the Etihad Stadium.
Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!
Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!
