Manchester City take on Bournemouth today in a quarter-final tie in the FA Cup at the Vitality Stadium. Both teams will be eager to book a trip to Wembley with a victory. The two teams play attractive football, so today’s match promises to be an entertaining affair. From a Manchester City point of view, they will be trying to book their seventh consecutive semi-final appearance in the competition. But Andoni Iraola’s side will be eager to progress to Wembley so a tough test awaits Pep Guardiola’s side. Here is the latest City injury news and my predicted City starting eleven ahead of today’s match.
Latest City injury news.
Manchester City will enter today’s match with Rodri, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji all out with long-term injuries. But aside from those four players, Pep Guardiola will have a full squad to choose from.
Guardiola told the media on Friday that all of his players had returned from international duty fully fit. However, he did add that fatigue was an issue for some of his players after their international exertions.
Ederson has trained and is available for selection for today’s match. The Brazilian international missed Manchester City’s 2-all draw with Brighton due to an abductor injury. Oscar Bobb has continued training over the past two weeks and could make his long-awaited return to the Manchester City squad today.
Predicted Manchester City starting eleven.
Ederson: Typically Stefan Ortega starts in the FA Cup for Manchester City. But given what’s at stake today I’m expecting Ederson to start in goal.
Matheus Nunes: The pace of Nunes may needed to quell the threat posed by Bournemouth’s attack. That attribute should see him start at the Vitality Stadium today.
Abdukodir Khusanov: The Uzbekistan international is almost one of the first names on Pep Guardiola’s team sheet based on his recent displays. I see no reason as to why he won’t start today.
Ruben Dias: Dias is an obvious starter for today’s match.
Nico O’Reilly: It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Josko Gvardiol rested for today’s match after playing so much for Croatia over the international break. If that proves to be the case Nico O’Reilly could start at left-back.
Nico: The Spanish midfielder will have a big role to play today at the Vitality Stadium. I’d be shocked if he didn’t start today’s match.
Bernardo Silva: I’m expecting Bernardo to start in midfield as I believe Pep Guardiola will go with what he trusts in a big game.
Kevin De Bruyne: De Bruyne played well for Belgium over the international break. He’s in form and today’s match could be the time for De Bruyne to show he’s still got it when his team needs him.
Phil Foden: I believe Foden will start today and I’m expecting him to line up on the right wing and drift centrally.
Omar Marmoush: Marmoush scored against Brighton and I’m hopeful that he will start on the left wing today.
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