Man City host Bournemouth in Premier League 2026/27 opener

Manchester City open their 2026/27 Premier League campaign at home to Bournemouth on Sunday, with kick-off at 14:00 (UK time). It is the first of 38 league fixtures for Enzo Maresca's side, who take the field under new management following Pep Guardiola's departure.

Bournemouth arrive on the back of their best-ever top-flight season, finishing sixth with 57 points from 38 games — 13 wins, 18 draws and seven defeats — which earned them a Europa League place for 2026/27.

The Cherries are also under new management. Marco Rose has replaced Andoni Iraola, who left for Liverpool. The German brings experience from Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Dortmund and RB Leipzig, and is known for building high-pressing, high-energy sides.

Bournemouth's summer transfer activity has been measured. Arrivals include centre-back Antonio Silva from Benfica, right-back Juanlu from Sevilla and striker Alvaro Rodriguez. Midfielder Hamed Traore has departed for Marseille, while defender Marcos Senesi has joined Tottenham on a free transfer.

Offensively, Bournemouth scored 58 goals last season — fifth best in the division — and led the league with nine goals from fast-break situations. Junior Kroupi was their top scorer with 13, though he is ruled out of Sunday's match through a pre-season injury. Amine Adli is also unavailable.

Defensively, the Cherries conceded 54 goals, a total only better than six other sides. Their 26 goals conceded from set-piece situations was the worst record in the entire league. They also committed 457 fouls and collected 88 yellow cards, placing them among the most combative sides in the division.

City's head-to-head record against Bournemouth at home is commanding. They have won all nine Premier League home fixtures against the Cherries, scoring 34 goals and conceding just six — an average of 3.8 goals per home game, the highest City have recorded against any opponent on home soil. Across 18 Premier League meetings overall, Bournemouth have won just once, with one draw. The most recent encounter, however, ended in a draw on the south coast last May.