Manchester City are back in Premier League action, looking to respond to last weekend's defeat, but face a tough test, with Bournemouth the visitors to the Etihad Stadium.

Heading into the 10th matchday of the season, the Cherries sit second in the table, four points behind pacesetters Arsenal, and two ahead of City, who are down in fifth.

Both of those positions could change by kick-off on Sunday, with things proving tight at the top of the table so far this season. Arsenal play on Saturday against Burnley and have a chance to open up a bigger advantage at the summit.

Pep Guardiola's side lost 1-0 to Aston Villa last Sunday, missing the chance to close the gap to the league leaders, but a win this weekend would see them at least leapfrog their opponents.

But Bournemouth have an impressive unbeaten streak to defend, with only Liverpool, on the opening day, getting the better of them in the top-flight so far.

So, who is the likely winner when the sides clash? Here, we delve into the Opta data to find out.

What's expected?

A trip to the Etihad has been far from Bournemouth's favourite fixture during their time in the Premier League, having struggled to lay a glove on City.

The Citizens have won all eight of their Premier League home games against Bournemouth.

In top-flight history, only Manchester United (16/16 v Luton Town) and City themselves (9/9 v Swansea City) have a better 100% home win rate against an opponent.

In those eight matches, City have scored 31 goals and netted more than once in every win. By contrast, Bournemouth have just five goals, having never scored more than once in a single game at the Etihad.

Overall, Bournemouth have lost 15 of their 16 Premier League games against City, with the exception of a 2-1 win at the Vitality Stadium last season, which also took place on November 2.

Indeed, that win marks the only match in which City have conceded more than once to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

And given City's total dominance in this fixture, it is no surprise they are strong favourites to win on Sunday, triumphing in 61.5% of the Opta supercomputer's 10,000 pre-match simulations.

Bournemouth get their first win at the Etihad in 18.2% of those, while their chances of a draw sit at 20.3%.

City seeking home comforts

City responded to last weekend's disappointment, which marked Guardiola's 50th Premier League defeat, by reaching the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup by coming from behind to beat Swansea City 3-1 on Wednesday.

They have already lost three top-flight matches this season – it is the first time they have lost as many as three of their opening nine games of a campaign since 2013-14.

However, that season, they went on to lift the league title, something this side will be keen to emulate, especially with reigning champions Liverpool currently struggling.

According to the Opta supercomputer, they are currently the second favourites to win the title. Leaders Arsenal have a 68.2% chance of lifting their first Premier League trophy since 2003-04, with City behind them on 12.9%, but that figure could improve with a win over Bournemouth.

The Citizens do have the added boost of being back at the Etihad, having won 11 of their 14 Premier League games on home soil in 2025 (D1 L2). And, heading into this weekend, no team has earned more home wins or points (34) than City this calendar year.

Having drawn a blank last weekend, City will certainly be keen to regain their scoring touch, especially as the joint-highest scorers in the Premier League so far (17, along with Chelsea and Tottenham).

However, City are averaging just 13.7 shots per game in the top-flight this term, their lowest average across a single campaign since 2007-08 (11.1).

They have had 123 shots overall, with 43 of those on target, though they have just a 13.8% shot conversion rate, the joint-fifth best in the league (level with Chelsea).

Regardless, when City have scored to take the lead, they have, for the most part, held onto it well.

They are the only side in the Premier League this season to spend more than half of their game time in a winning position (51.3%), but they cannot rest on their laurels against Bournemouth.

Bournemouth ready to throw a spanner in the works

Despite their late disappointment against Liverpool back in August, Bournemouth have impressed in 2025-26, going from strength to strength, as shown by their current league position.

They earned a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend to vault themselves up to second, claiming their 100th Premier League victory in the process.

They are currently unbeaten in their last eight top-flight matches (W5 D3), the longest run without defeat of any current Premier League side.

Bournemouth's 18 points collected so far also mark their best start to a top-flight campaign, eclipsing the 17 points they earned under Eddie Howe in 2018-19.

Despite their torrid record at the Etihad, the Cherries will certainly put up a fight and could pose an intriguing match-up with City.

Bournemouth have spent the least time trailing both overall (98m 13s) and as a percentage of game time (10.9%) this season.

They may be facing the top scorers, but Bournemouth are not far behind City in the charts, having netted 16 times themselves from 112 shots, and they have overperformed their expected goals tally (11.0, +5.0).

Bournemouth also boast a better shot conversion rate (14.3%), with their threat from range a particular highlight.

Andoni Iraola's side have scored more goals from outside the box than any other side in the Premier League this season (six), with Marcus Tavernier scoring directly from a corner against Forest last time out.

However, Bournemouth have only won once on the road this term (1-0 win v Spurs in August) and have drawn their last two away matches with Leeds United and Crystal Palace.

In both of those games, however, Bournemouth gave up leads, something they will need to be careful of should they strike first this weekend.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Manchester City – Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland failed to score for just the second time in the Premier League this season in City's 1-0 loss at Villa last time out, though City are currently waiting to find out if he will be fit for Sunday.

He already has 11 goals this term, hitting that total on MD8 – it is the third-earliest a player has hit double figures in a campaign in the competition, with the Norwegian also responsible for the first two instances (MD5 in 2022-23, MD6 in 2024-25).

Haaland has had more shots (37) and more shots on target (21) than any other Premier League player this season, scoring a brace in his last three at the Etihad.

Meanwhile, of the 23 sides he has faced in the competition, only against Newcastle United (447) does he have a worse minutes-per-goal average than he does against Bournemouth, netting just once in 439 minutes against the Cherries.

Bournemouth – Eli Kroupi

Eli Kroupi has scored in each of his last three Premier League appearances for Bournemouth. 

Should the 19-year-old find the net on Sunday, he would become just the fourth teenager to score in four or more consecutive games in the competition, after Robbie Fowler, Nicolas Anelka and Francis Jeffers.

Across Europe's top five leagues, Eintracht Frankfurt's Can Uzun (five) is the only teenager to net more league goals than Kroupi (four) this term.

He has had at least two shots in each of his last three matches, only failing to score with one of his five efforts on target in that run.