Prediction: Bournemouth vs Manchester City

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 23/20

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth will host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in a standout FA Cup quarter-final clash at the Vitality Stadium this weekend.

The Cherries secured their place in the final eight by edging past Wolverhampton Wanderers in a penalty shootout, while the reigning English champions overcame a scare against Plymouth Argyle, eventually winning 3-1.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth’s hopes of securing a Champions League spot have faded, but they remain in the hunt for European football as they prepare for a historic FA Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium.

After a stellar 12-game unbeaten run between late November and January, Andoni Iraola’s side have faltered, suffering four defeats in their last eight outings, including a 2-1 home loss to Brentford before the international break.

Currently sitting 10th in the Premier League, the Cherries still have a shot at European qualification, with FA Cup glory offering a direct route to the Europa League. They have reached the quarter-finals twice before but fell short both times—losing 2-1 to Manchester United in 1957 and 3-0 to Southampton in 2021.

This season, Bournemouth have reached the last eight by dismantling West Bromwich Albion 5-1, edging past Everton 2-0, and prevailing in a dramatic penalty shootout against Wolves. Their 2-1 victory over City in November was their first-ever win against the reigning champions, but another upset will be a tall order.

Team News

Iraola will be without key defenders Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen, both suspended after accumulating two yellow cards in the competition. Julio Soler is expected to deputize at left-back, while Marcos Senesi is fit to return but will not play the full 90 minutes.

Meanwhile, James Hill and Ilya Zabarnyi are set to start at the heart of the defence, but Bournemouth remain without Adam Smith (calf), Julian Araujo (thigh), Luis Sinisterra (hamstring), and Enes Unal (knee).

Manchester City

Manchester City avoided a major FA Cup upset in the last round, coming from behind to defeat second-tier Plymouth Argyle 3-1, thanks to a brace from Nico O’Reilly and a late Kevin De Bruyne strike.

Now, Pep Guardiola’s men turn their attention to Bournemouth, seeking an eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final appearance. City’s dominant record in this stage of the competition makes them the team to beat, but their recent league form has been inconsistent, with a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest followed by a 2-2 draw against Brighton.

Despite their struggles throughout the 2024/25 season following Rodri’s injury early on, City remain well-placed for Champions League qualification, given England’s strong UEFA coefficient.

Team News

The reigning Premier League champions return from the international break with familiar injury concerns, as Rodri (ACL), John Stones (thigh), Nathan Ake (foot), and Manuel Akanji (abductor) remain sidelined. Oscar Bobb has returned to youth action but is unlikely to feature at senior level just yet.

On the positive side, Guardiola confirmed that first-choice goalkeeper Ederson is fit after an abdominal issue, while Josko Gvardiol’s minor knock on international duty is not a major concern.

O’Reilly’s impressive display at left-back against Plymouth could see him retain his place, while Erling Haaland, fresh from reaching 100 Premier League goal involvements in record time, leads the attack once again.

Conclusion

With both Bournemouth and Manchester City dealing with defensive absences, Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final could turn into a high-scoring affair.

Andoni Iraola’s attack-minded Cherries have the firepower to trouble Guardiola’s side, but the losses of Huijsen and Kerkez in defence could leave them too vulnerable.

Meanwhile, City’s exceptional record at this stage of the competition and their wealth of attacking options make them strong favorites. While Bournemouth could find the net more than once, the visitors are backed to edge an entertaining five-goal thriller and secure their seventh consecutive FA Cup semi-final appearance.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 23/20

Bookmaker: ZetBet