Predicted Starting Line-Up: Bournemouth vs Manchester City (FA Cup Quarter-Final) | OneFootball

Manchester City return to action after the international break on Sunday afternoon when they face Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-final at the Vitality Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s men are vying to win the FA Cup to salvage what has been a disappointing season in the Premier League and Champions League.

City have nine league games left to claim a top four finish and secure their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

The Blues are struggling with injuries across the backline as they continue to miss Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and academy graduate Oscar Bobb – both of whom are stepping up recovery from their respective long-term injuries sustained last year.

Manchester City saw off Plymouth Argyle in the fifth-round, with Kevin De Bruyne adding to a Nico O’Reilly brace to set up a tricky quarter-final tie against Bournemouth.

The Cherries secured their first ever win over Manchester City in the Premier League era with a 2-1 victory over the reigning English champions in November.

Guardiola has stressed on the importance of finishing a drab season on a high by winning the FA Cup and securing a top four Premier League finish.

Here’s how we predict Manchester City could line up in a crucial cup tie in the south that can secure a date for a semi-final tie at Wembley!

Predicted XI

Stefan Ortega Moreno is likely to start in goal and keep his place between the sticks after getting the nod against Plymouth Argyle in the fifth-round.

Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol will occupy the wide defensive positions to provide cover against a potent Bournemouth attack that caused City all sorts of problems in the Premier League edition of the fixture in November.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Ruben Dias have proved to be Guardiola’s preferred centre half pairing in the continued absences of John Stones, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji.

Nico Gonzalez is expected to occupy the number six midfield position and provide cover to the defence, with Bernardo Silva expected to partner the Spaniard

Erling Haaland will start down the middle as he remains City’s likeliest source of goals after bearing perhaps more of a burden to deliver the goods than he’d have liked.

Omar Marmoush returned to the scoresheet against Brighton and Hove Albion is expected to operate just behind Haaland in the number ten position, with Savinho occupying the right wing.

Jeremy Doku has been in fine form in the wide attacking positions of late and will start on the left wing, with his pace and strength on the ball a much-needed quality in a City attack that has lacked initiative for much of the season.

Starting XI: Ortega Moreno; Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Nico, Silva; Savinho, Marmoush, Doku, Haaland

Substitutes: Ederson, Carson, Nunes, Reis, Gundogan, De Bruyne, McAtee, Grealish, Foden