Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
Key events
10 min Opportunity! Gundogan displays skillful footwork as he maneuvers through midfield. Nunes sets up for a cross from the right, finding Haaland unmarked, but the header goes off target.
8 min Another misplay by Ederson, this time sending the ball straight to a Bournemouth player, who is subsequently fouled. A free kick is awarded from 30 yards, but Kluivert’s attempt ends up in Row Z.
Updated at 17.39 CEST
5 min Manchester City starts to connect some passes, but Bournemouth gains possession. Gundogan fouls, nearly receiving an early caution.
5 min Kluivert opts for a short set-piece, but City easily clear the danger.
4 min A race for the ball ends in a draw between Khusanov and Kluivert, resulting in a corner for Bournemouth.
3 min Ederson continues his streak of troublesome kicks, but this time he is under pressure as he struggles.
2 min Ederson makes another errant kick. It appears this might be a deliberate tactic.
1 min The match begins with City kicking off and passing back to Ederson, who launches a long pass that goes out of bounds.
The weather is pleasant, with the pitch resembling a green chessboard and the crowd bustling with excitement.
The teams make their entrance, led by Lewis Cook and Kevin de Bruyne. Commentary from Roy Keane reflects skepticism regarding Kepa Arrizabalaga, although he expresses doubt about several players.
An email! In lighthearted commentary, Peter Oh notes the City players checking their wrists for the correct time in British Summer Time, humorously suggesting they need new watches.
Pep speaks
Pep Guardiola understands the significance of this match, according to Mark Pougatch. During an interview, when asked about returning to Bournemouth, Pep pauses before responding with a friendly yet firm demeanor, concluding with “Nothing special.”
He does, however, praise Bournemouth’s head coach, Andoni Iraola. “He is proving to be excellent. [Bournemouth is] fantastic to watch, so intense. He did exceptionally well with Vallecano in Spain and has now succeeded here.”
Pre-match reading. Will Unwin discusses the state of Manchester City and the potential departures of key players.
The winners will play Forest
The semi-final draw has already been conducted, albeit for unclear reasons. The victor of this match will face Nottingham Forest, while the other semi-final features Crystal Palace against Aston Villa. These teams might see an opportunity given City’s recent struggles; however, considering their past experiences at Wembley, City could still be seen as favorites.
Updated at 16.59 CEST
Teams in full
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Arrizabalaga; Cook, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Soler; Christie, Adams; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson.
Subs: Dennis, Dango, Smith, Jebbison, Hill, Scott, Silcott-Duberry, Akinmboni, Winterburn.
Man City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Gundogan, Kovacic; Silva, Foden, De Bruyne; Haaland.
Subs: Ortega, Lewis, Reis, Gonzalez, O’Reilly, McAtee, Marmoush, Grealish, Doku.
Updated at 16.44 CEST
Teams in brief: Pep goes for old
Pep Guardiola opts for a lineup of experienced players—Gundogan, De Bruyne, Kovacic, and Silva. Notably, he doesn’t start a winger, suggesting De Bruyne could operate on the left side.
Updated at 16.42 CEST
Preamble
Good afternoon and welcome to the most significant of the FA Cup quarter-finals. The last encounter between Manchester City and Bournemouth on November 2 marked a pivotal moment in English football.
During that match, City was leading the league with an impressive record when they unexpectedly fell to a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth, allowing Liverpool to seize the top position. Since then, City has struggled to maintain their form, securing only seven additional league victories and dropping to 13th in the standings, trailing even teams like Manchester United.
The FA Cup now represents Pep Guardiola’s sole realistic opportunity for silverware this season. While City has yet to falter in this competition—against lower-division teams, no less—the challenge posed by Bournemouth, despite missing two key players, promises to be significant. The home side is known for their high-pressing style, which could exploit any uncertainty among City’s back line.
The weather is sunny, situated on the south coast, and with the clock adjusted for British Summer Time, the match is set to kick off at 4:30 PM, though it will feel like 3:30 PM. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting match.
Updated at 16.32 CEST
Source
www.theguardian.com