Manchester City v Bournemouth – A Look At The Opposition

Bournemouth make a swift return to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday as Manchester City begin another defence of the League Cup.

The Cherries were relegated on the final day of last season and sold defender Nathan Ake to the blues during the close season, but make the trip north for their League Cup third round tie as they attempt to become the first team to beat City in the competition since they lost at Old Trafford in 2016.

Bournemouth have played two games so far, winning one and drawing the other. On the opening day of the season, the Cherries twice conceded the lead, but found a winner with eight minutes remaining to beat Blackburn 3-2. Bournemouth travelled north to Middlesbrough and came within nine minutes of taking all three points back to the south coast, but left Teeside with a 1-1 draw.

Sandwiched in between their two Championship games was a home match in the League Cup against Premier League Crystal Palace. The match ended goalless, and in one of the most amazing penalty shoot-out’s in recent times, all twenty outfield players scored their respective penalties, however both keepers missed their spot-kicks. The Cherries then went through 11-10 to set up the trip to City.

Who’s In And Out?

Following their relegation, Nathan Ake joined City, but the Cherries also lost striker Callum Wilson to Newcastle for £20m, but they also lost Ryan Fraser before the Premier League restarted after the season was halted due to Covid-19. The midfielder’s contract expired in June and he didn’t play again for the club and subsequently signed for Newcastle.

Captain Simon Francis and vice-captain Andrew Surman also left the club over the summer, as well as Matt Butcher, who joined Accrington Stanley and Aaron Ramsdale, who joined Sheffield United. And in the last 24 hours, Harry Arter joined Nottingham Forest.

Who’s The Boss?

Manager Eddie Howe left the club by mutual consent after Bounremouth’s relegation and was replaced by assistant manager Jason Tindall, who spent eight years at the club as a player between 1998 and 2006.

Dangermen

Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld and Dominic Solanke are currently leading the Bournemouth charge. Each have one goal and one assist to their names, however Groenveld has played a game less. Jefferson Lermer and Jack Stacey also have a goal apiece, while Junior Stanislas and Adam Smith each have an assist. Smith leads the way on completed passes (40), however Stanislas has a better pass accuracy (86%).

Previous Matches Against City

This will be the first meeting between the two sides outside of league competition. There have been 16 games so far between the two and City are currently unbeaten in all of them. The blues have won 14, with two draws and have won the last 10 home and away, with an aggregate score of 30-5.