Manchester City are looking to progress to the last four of the FA Cup for the seventh straight season as they travel to Vitality Stadium for the quarterfinal tie against tricky outfit Bournemouth.
BOU vs MCI Match Details
Date: Saturday, 30 March 2025
Time: 16:30 (BST), 21:00 (IST)
Venue: Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
BOU vs MCI Match Preview
Even though Bournemouth did not have a heavyweight opponent to think about on their way to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, it does not belittle the club’s journey as they thrashed West Bromwich Albion 5-1, eased away Everton’s challenge and beat Wolves on penalties to reach this stage of the competition. Andoni Iraola is building up something incredible for the Cherries as they sit 10th on the Premier League table and just four points away from a continental spot. Their pacey and industrial attack has caused a lot of issues for top teams in the league, including their last-eight opponent Manchester City. Bournemouth took advantage of the crisis Pep Guardiola's team are facing this season with a sublime 2-1 league victory back in November. Iraola’s side will want to replicate that evening to reach Wembley for their first-ever FA Cup semifinal appearance in the club’s history and they have the potential to do so. Making a fairytale story of winning the FA Cup will earn a spot in the Europa League in addition to lifting a first major trophy in 41 years. However, the side suffered defeat in all the previous two instances at this stage, beaten by the red side of Manchester in 1957 and Southampton four years ago. Bournemouth’s form has also taken a dip having not won any of their last five games after suffering just one loss in the previous 15. So, the tie will not be easy.
Manchester City will be anxious to make their chances count against a side on the wrong track in the last few matches keeping their record of progressing to the FA Cup semifinal each time since the 2018-19 season intact. The Sky Blues prevented being a victim of the giant killers Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round of the competition despite going behind in the 38th minute. 20-year-old Nico O'Reilly became the hero for City scoring a match-saving brace before Kevin De Bruyne rounded things off in the 3-1 victory. The result meant they are only among the current top five teams in the Premier League to stay in the hunt for the FA Cup title. It is also the only piece of silverware they can win this season after a shocking campaign saw them drop to fifth on the league table and suffer early elimination from other cup competitions domestically or in Europe. City carries the fear of missing out on the Champions League or European football completely next season so winning this competition becomes a factor. Carrying an unprecedented record of not losing an FA Cup quarterfinal tie in the last six years, Guardiola's side will be confident but cannot get carried away knowing they haven’t been a force this term. The host posted their first win in this fixture last time and failing to win the past two games against fellow FA Cup quarterfinalists, Nottingham Forest and Brighton, in the league will keep them on the edge.
BOU vs MCI Recent Form
BOU: LLDDL
MCI: LWWLD
BOU vs MCI Predicted Lineups
Bournemouth
Kepa; Cook, Hill, Zabarnyi, ; Christie, Adams; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson
Manchester City
Ederson; Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Gundogan, De Bruyne; Savinho, Marmoush, Foden; Haaland
BOU vs MCI Dream11 Match Prediction
Bournemouth is expected to trouble Manchester City on their home ground again but the Sky Blues will not want to repeat their mistake in maintaining their excellent quarterfinal record. We predict an entertaining 2-1 win for last edition’s finalists.
BOU vs MCI Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Erling Haaland
Vice-captain Pick: Kevin De Bruyne
BOU vs MCI Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Kepa (Cr - 7.5)
DEF: Cook (Cr - 8), Dias (Cr - 7.5), Gvardiol (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 501)
MID: Foden (Cr - 9), Kluivert (Cr - 9), De Bruyne (Cr - 8), Tavernier (Cr - 7.5)
FW: Marmoush (Cr - 8), Haaland (Cr - 9), Evanilson (Cr - 7.5)
Vice-captain: Kevin De Bruyne
Captain: Erling Haaland