Manchester City vs Bournemouth: Latest City injury news and predicted City starting eleven | OneFootball

Manchester City take Bournemouth tonight at the Etihad Stadium in a crucial Premier League fixture for Pep Guardiola’s side. A win would see City rise to third on the Premier League table ahead of the final day of the Premier League season. Manchester City are currently locked in a battle to secure Champions League football for next season. It will also be an emotional night at the Etihad as Kevin De Bruyne plays his final game at the Etihad as a City player. Could that inspire his teammates to pick up the result they need tonight? De Bruyne’s farewell has that potential.

Here is the latest City injury news and my predicted City starting eleven ahead of tonight’s match.

Latest Manchester City injury news.

On the injury front, Manchester City appear to be approaching full strength. As we saw with City’s travelling squad for Saturday’s FA Cup final, all of City’s players travelled to Wembley. Heading into tonight’s game, there appear to be three players who loom as the biggest selection stories before kickoff.

They are Rodri, Mateo Kovacic and Kevin De Bruyne. Pep Guardiola told the media yesterday that Rodri is edging closer to selection. Does that mean he can play tonight? Manchester City are desperate for a victory tonight, so could City’s midfield general finally get back on the pitch? Odds are probably not, but you never know at this stage. It is a story to watch for ahead of kickoff.

Mateo Kovacic missed the FA Cup final as he wasn’t deemed fit enough to play. He could be in line to return tonight. Kovacic has been in superb form recently, and if fit, you’d expect him to start tonight.

The other major question query surrounds Kevin De Bruyne. Can he start two games in 4 days? Surely he will start his final game at the Etihad? It would be brave of Pep Guardiola not to start De Bruyne tonight, but stranger things have happened.

Predicted City starting eleven.

Ederson- I expect Ederson to replace Stefan Ortega in goal for tonight’s match.

Matheus Nunes- Manuel Akanji started at right-back for the FA Cup final, but I think we should see Nunes start tonight.

Ruben Dias- He simply has to start tonight. Tonight’s match isn’t the time for Pep Guardiola to rejig his defence.

Josko Gvardiol- See above. Simply has to start tonight.

Nico O’Reilly- O’Reilly was City’s man-of-the-match in their 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth. I believe he should start tonight against Andoni Iraola’s side.

Mateo Kovacic- If fit, I expect Kovacic to return to the starting lineup tonight.

Nico- The Spanish midfielder hasn’t played for a while. But he could be a crucial player against Bournemouth’s lively midfield, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he started tonight.

Kevin De Bruyne- De Bruyne has to start tonight’s match, surely?

Claudio Echeverri- I don’t know if Pep will start Echeverri, but he put in a promising cameo against Crystal Palace. May as well give him his first start in a big game to follow on from his promising debut.

Jeremy Doku- The Belgian international has been City’s most dangerous attacking player recently. That should see him start tonight.

Erling Haaland- If Haaland starts, he must fire for his team. He’s had two games to get back up to full fitness. Haaland also owes his team after Saturday’s penalty debacle in the FA Cup final.