Bournemouth vs Manchester City prediction

Rodri is back in City's engine room, and that alone changes the complexion of this game. The FA Cup final win over Chelsea showed a squad peaking at exactly the right moment — fit, sharp, and hungry for more. Bournemouth's 16-game unbeaten run deserves genuine respect, and the Vitality has been a proper fortress all season. But here's where it falls apart: Ryan Christie is suspended and Lewis Cook is a major doubt, gutting the one area you absolutely cannot be short against City's relentless press. You simply cannot go into a game against Pep's side with a depleted midfield. City will find those gaps and exploit them, and even a rotated lineup carries enough quality to punish a weakened engine room — their fringe players are world-class by any measure. The historical record also leans heavily towards the away side in this fixture, and City have repeatedly shown they grind out results on the road when the motivation is there. Bournemouth's streak has to end somewhere. Back City to win — a depleted Cherries midfield running into a fully-loaded away side is the perfect storm to snap this run.