Ever since Pep Guardiola said that the chase for the Premier League title is over for Manchester City, his side has played virtually perfect soccer, picking up three straight victories, including continuing to advance in the FA Cup. Is the quest for silverware still on? It's about to get real for the Citizens, and this match against AFC Bournemouth could be a hidden banana peel.
At 3 p.m. ET, tune into NBC Sports Network for live television coverage of this BPL match on Monday, February 13, 2017, at Dean Court.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Bournemouth +575
Manchester City -213
Draw +375
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
City might be on the road in this match, but it's clearly the overwhelming favorite at -1 on the Asian Handicap and -213 on the moneyline. Still, it's worth remembering that the Cherries have picked up some big scalps this year, especially at home where they're a downright respectable 5-3-4 this year. They aren't going to go down easily, even though Man City has a road record that is just narrowly behind that of Chelsea at 8-0-4.
The total is one of the higher of the week at a flat 3.
Key Injuries
Charlie Daniels is a relatively big loss for Bournemouth. He's a man who really has the potential to change matches like this one, and when a moment of brilliance is needed, he's the man who often has gotten it for the Cherries. He's out with a knee problem just as Callum Wilson is out thanks to a knee injury as well. Adam Smith and Simon Francis figure to be back in the fold on Monday after sitting out last week.
Man City is in pretty good shape right now. The team won't have Ilkay Gundongen for the rest of the year in all likelihood, but he's the only man who Guardiola won't have to pick from on Monday.
Recent Form
We've already alluded to the great run Manchester City is on. The docket hasn't been particularly tough against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup and West Ham and Swansea City in the Premier League, but just getting this team back in good form has been tough enough for a club that, in totality, has rather unachieved.
Bournemouth has been all over the place this year, and that was probably most typified against Everton at Goodison Park. The Cherries scored three times, a mark that is normally good enough to get three points no matter who the foe is. But if Romelu Lukaku was a team by himself, he would have gotten three points. Lukaku scored four times for the Toffees to help them to a 6-3 triumph. Bournemouth has now lost two straight matches and hasn't won since December 3, and if its form keeps up like that, this team could end up going from the middle of the table to the relegation zone in a hurry.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
We really love what the Cherries have done this year, and we know they're going to go for it for sure. But Artur Boruc has been a disaster in net, and we really don't know whether a young defense that is still trying to play without Daniels is going to be able to figure out how to slow down an offense that is starting to get a bit more of an identity to it with Gabriel Jesus really coming on strong in recent weeks. Between Jesus and Raheem Sterling, not only does Guardiola have a really good, young pairing that is almost making City fans forget about Sergio Aguero, but he's got a core at 19 and 22 years old respectively, that could be around at the Etihad for a long time.
Bournemouth will put up a fight, but it'll be City who claims the three points in the end.
BPL Odds: Manchester City 3, Bournemouth 1
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