Manchester City and Bournemouth open the Premier League season

Manchester City takes the field this Sunday to face Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium in the opening round of the English Championship. The match marks the beginning of a new phase for both teams, who start the competition under the command of new managers.

Management change and absences for City

Manchester City begins the season under the direction of Enzo Maresca, who took over the team following the departure of Pep Guardiola. The club is also undergoing a squad overhaul, having lost players such as Rodri, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, and Nathan Aké. For the debut, the team will be without Jérémy Doku, who suffered a calf injury during the FA Community Shield, but relies on Erling Haaland as its main offensive reference and could feature the debut of Elliot Anderson.

Bournemouth's preparation and injuries

On the other side, Bournemouth arrives led by Marco Rose, replacing Andoni Iraola. During the preseason, the team maintained an offensive approach with expressive results in friendlies, but will miss key players for the match, such as Junior Kroupi, who underwent foot surgery, and the suspended Ryan Christie. Brazilian player Evanilson emerges as the main attacking reference for the visitors in the duel.

Head-to-head history at the Etihad Stadium

Recent history favors the hosts when it comes to the home fixture. City has won all nine home games it has played against Bournemouth in the Premier League, scoring 34 goals and conceding only six. However, the most recent encounter between the teams ended in a draw.

Where to watch the match

Fans wishing to follow the clash live this Sunday can tune into the broadcast provided by the Disney+ streaming service or CazéTV via YouTube.

With information from O GLOBO, VEJA.