Match Context
The Premier League season opens on Sunday, 23 August 2026, with Manchester City taking on Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium. The fixture marks Enzo Maresca’s first league outing after taking over from Pep Guardiola, who departed following a 3-0 Community Shield loss to Arsenal. Marco Rose, who succeeded Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth, will also start his tenure against the reigning champions.
The last encounter between the sides ended 1-1 on 19 May 2026 in the Premier League, a result that confirmed Arsenal as champions. City will look to build momentum after a turbulent start to the season, while Bournemouth aim to prove they can compete against top-flight opposition.
Manchester City Team News
City’s squad is still in flux. Jeremy Doku, who aggravated a calf injury in the Community Shield, is ruled out for two to three weeks. Both Savinho and Omar Marmoush are in talks over moves to Tottenham Hotspur and will miss the match. Matheus Nunes, who suffered a minor muscle problem, is back in contention and could be used at right-back.
Elliot Anderson, signed this summer, remains in central midfield alongside Mateo Kovačić. With Doku absent, Jack Grealish is expected to return on the left flank, while former Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo is set to start on the right. Erling Haaland continues his prolific opening-week record, having scored seven goals in four fixtures.
Key departures from the previous season-Bernardo Silva, Rodri and John Stones-have reshaped the squad, and the new midfield partnership of Anderson and Kovačić will be crucial as City look to regain form.
Bournemouth Team News
Bournemouth’s lineup is also affected by injuries and suspensions. Ryan Christie will start the season suspended, a carry-over from last term. Eli Junior Kroupi, Amine Adli, Veljko Milosavljevic, Julian Araujo, David Brooks and Julio Soler are all sidelined.
Tyler Adams, Juanlu Sánchez and Álvaro Rodríguez have returned to training but are not yet fully fit. New signing António Silva is expected to make his debut in central defence alongside James Hill. The club’s pre-season was productive, winning three of five friendlies and scoring 22 goals, including a 10-1 win over Genoa.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Anderson, Kovacic; Semenyo, Foden, Grealish; Haaland.
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Cook, Scott; Rayan, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson.
How to Watch
The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage beginning at 13:00 BST. The referee for the game is Jarred Gillett, with VAR Paul Howard.
The fixture promises to be a showcase of City’s new management and Bournemouth’s resilience, with both sides eager to start the campaign on a positive note.
