By Graham Ruthven
Prime 5 ambitions
There isn’t any time for Manchester Metropolis to linger on what occurred at Wembley on Saturday. Certainly, Pep Guardiola and his gamers should rapidly recover from defeat within the FA Cup ultimate to safe their place in subsequent season’s Champions League.
Weekend wins for Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have put strain on Metropolis to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday evening. Their spot within the prime 5 may rely on it.
Bournemouth have already crushed Manchester Metropolis as soon as this season, however enter Tuesday’s match on the Etihad Stadium on the again of a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa over per week in the past. The Cherries have gained simply two of their final 10 video games in all competitions.
Metropolis want six factors from two matches this week to maximise their probabilities of ending within the prime 5. They will’t rely on favours elsewhere, making Tuesday’s match one in every of their most vital of all the marketing campaign.
Key gamers
Erling Haaland handed on the prospect to attain from the spot in opposition to Crystal Palace within the FA Cup ultimate and hasn’t appeared as sharp in entrance of purpose since getting back from harm two weeks in the past. Nonetheless, the Norwegian will lead the road on Tuesday evening.
Kevin De Bruyne has discovered a wealthy vein of kind in latest weeks, scoring a successful purpose in his final residence match for Metropolis in opposition to Wolves. The Belgian continues to be Metropolis’s most dependable artistic participant at the same time as he prepares to go away the membership.
Phil Foden might be in line for a begin after solely coming off the bench for a second half cameo in opposition to Crystal Palace within the FA Cup ultimate. Jérémy Doku and Savinho did little to impression the match and might be dropped for different choices.
Evanilson, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo will all pose an attacking risk on the Etihad Stadium. Bournemouth are some of the harmful vertical groups within the Premier League and Metropolis will give them area to use in behind.
Tyler Adams and Lewis Prepare dinner will begin because the double pivot on the base of the Bournemouth midfield whereas Dean Huijsen will play his first recreation since his summer time switch to Actual Madrid was confirmed. The Spaniard could have one other alternative to reveal his stage.
Workforce information
Rodri, John Stones, Nathan Aké and Oscar Bobb are all nonetheless sidelined for Manchester Metropolis. In any other case, Guardiola has a totally match and accessible squad to select from.
Guardiola faces a choice over who to play within the huge areas, each within the defence and additional ahead. Matheus Nunes may come into the lineup at proper again whereas James McAtee may begin forward of him.
Ryan Christie, Dango Ouattarra and Luis Sinisterra will all miss Bournemouth’s journey to the Etihad Stadium with Alex Scott and Enes Ünal additionally sidelined in the intervening time for the Cherries.
Prediction
Failing to succeed in the Champions League, each in its expanded format, and with the quantity of locations on supply to English groups could be unthinkable. Pep Guardiola should, subsequently, have the ability to rescue one thing from the season, beginning with a win tonight that can arrange Sunday’s dramatic ultimate spherical: Manchester Metropolis 2-1 Bournemouth.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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