Preview: Manchester City vs. Bournemouth - prediction, team news, lineups

Manchester City are in action for the first time since having their European ban overturned as they take on strugglers Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Citizens have been cleared to compete in the Champions League next term and have already sealed a top-four finish in the Premier League, while Bournemouth are scrapping for their lives at the other end of the table.

Match preview

Pep Guardiola reiterated as recently as the weekend that he was confident City's two-year ban from competing in European competition for breaching financial fair play regulations would be overturned.

So that proved on Monday morning when the Court of Arbitration for Sport lifted the ban, freeing City to compete in the Champions League next season.

That should put an end to speculation over the future of Guardiola and star players such as Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne, with the latter previously admitting that he may consider moving on if the ban was upheld.

Focus can now turn to ending the 2019-20 season on a high as City battle for silverware on two fronts in the FA Cup and Champions League.

The Citizens lead Real Madrid 2-1 ahead of the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie and take on Arsenal in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday.

In terms of their Premier League campaign, it is now just a case of putting as many points on the board as possible, with back-to-back 5-0 wins - over Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion - ensuring City can now finish no lower than second.

Indeed, since officially losing their title to Liverpool a couple of weeks ago, City have won three out of four games and scored 14 unanswered goals in those victories.

The 1-0 away loss to Southampton during that run shows that they are not quite as formidable as last season, however, and that offers Bournemouth just a little hope ahead of this midweek clash.

The Cherries revived their survival hopes with a 4-1 victory over Leicester City on Sunday, capitalising on an incredible collapse by their opponents by scoring four times in the final 25 minutes.

That victory was Bournemouth's first in 10 matches since February 1 and moves them back to within three points of safety following wins for Watford and West Ham United on Saturday.

If it is momentum Eddie Howe is after, though, it is unlikely to come in the form of any sort of positive result at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Bournemouth have lost all nine Premier League meetings with City by an aggregate score of 28-4 - the best 100% record one opponent has against another in English top-flight history.

Manchester City's Premier League form: WLWLWW Manchester City's form (all competitions): LWWLWW

Bournemouth's Premier League form: LLLLDW

Team News

City's focus is undoubtedly on the two other cup competitions that they are still involved in, meaning that changes could be made here ahead of Saturday's FA Cup clash with Arsenal.

Indeed, Guardiola admitted as much on the back of the win over Brighton, suggesting that as many as six alterations may be on the cards if possible.

Sterling scored another hat-trick in that comfortable weekend victory and is among those expected to be given a breather, along with De Bruyne, Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez.

Joao Cancelo is also carrying a knock and is unlikely to be risked here, so Kyle Walker will continue to operate at right-back.

Bournemouth will have to make do without influential defender Nathan Ake for their remaining games after he limped off against Leicester.

Experienced centre-back Steve Cook is the favourite to slot in alongside Lloyd Kelly, with Simon Francis and Chris Mepham also carrying injuries.

Joshua King sat out the Leicester win with a hamstring complaint, but Dominic Solanke scored his first goals for the club and is ready to lead the line alongside Callum Wilson.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko; Gundogan, Fernandinho, D.Silva; Bernardo, Jesus, Foden

Bournemouth possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; Stacey, Cook, Kelly, Rico; Brooks, Billing, Lerma, Stanislas; Solanke, Wilson

We say: Manchester City 4-0 Bournemouth

Bournemouth have taken four points from their last two matches and still have hope of avoiding the drop. City have scored 10 unanswered goals in their last two games, however, and they have an incredible record against the Cherries in the Premier League, so we can only see this game ending one way.