Man City vs AFC Bournemouth Stats: H2H Record & Analysis

Few rivalries in English football are as one-sided as Manchester City’s dominance over AFC Bournemouth. With 18 wins in 19 meetings and no draws, the FootyStats head-to-head data lays it bare. But that solitary Bournemouth victory—a 1-0 upset—proves that even the most lopsided records can hold a twist. This article breaks down the numbers, the key players, and what the future might hold for both sides.

Total Meetings (All Comps): 19 · Manchester City Wins: 18 · AFC Bournemouth Wins: 1 · Draws: 0 · Bournemouth Current League Rank: 6th (2025-26) · Manchester City Current League Rank: 2nd (2025-26)

What is the head-to-head record between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City?

In 19 competitive meetings, Manchester City have won 18 and Bournemouth have won 1. Not a single draw has been recorded, making this one of the most lopsided head-to-heads in Premier League history, per FootyStats (football statistics platform).

Total meetings and win/loss breakdown

• Manchester City wins: 18
• AFC Bournemouth wins: 1
• Draws: 0
• Total goals: Manchester City 56 — Bournemouth 13 (FootyStats)

Goals scored and conceded in matchups

Manchester City average roughly 2.95 goals per game against Bournemouth, while Bournemouth average 0.68. The most common outcome is a City win with both teams scoring — 53% of meetings have gone over 2.5 goals (FootyStats).

The pattern: City’s attack dominates possession and conversion rate, while Bournemouth have rarely managed to hold a lead. The only exception came in the 2021-22 season when Bournemouth won 1-0, ending a 15-game losing streak according to OneFootball (football news outlet).

The following table summarises the historical comparison between the two sides.

The implication: City’s 18-1 advantage is not just frequent but emphatic, with a goal difference that dwarfs Bournemouth’s output across nearly two decades of meetings.

What rank is Bournemouth vs Man City?

As of the 2025-26 season, Manchester City sit 2nd in the Premier League with 56 points from 27 games (17 wins, 5 draws, 5 losses), while Bournemouth hold 6th with 38 points (9 wins, 11 draws, 7 losses), according to ESPN (sports broadcaster).

Current league positions for 2025-26

• Manchester City: 2nd — 56 points
• AFC Bournemouth: 6th — 38 points

Implications for upcoming match

Bournemouth’s best-ever league finish (6th) positions them as a genuine top-half team. But City’s 2nd-place standing, fueled by Erling Haaland’s 22 goals, makes them heavy favourites. The gap in points (18) underscores City’s superior depth.

What this means: Bournemouth will need to defend deep and hit on the counter, the same formula that delivered their 2021-22 upset. City’s high press and ball retention (average 65% possession in recent meetings) will test Bournemouth’s defensive shape.

What team beat Man City the most?

Historically, Manchester City’s most frequent defeat in Premier League history comes against Chelsea, who have beaten City more often than any other club. However, Bournemouth have managed two wins in recent years (2021-22 and 2024-25), making them one of the smaller clubs with multiple victories over the Cityzens.

Teams with highest win count against Manchester City

• Chelsea — 28 wins
• Arsenal — 24 wins
• Manchester United — 23 wins
• AFC Bournemouth — 2 wins (joint lowest among current PL sides with multiple wins)

The trade-off: Big clubs have records built over decades, while Bournemouth’s two wins came only recently. City’s current dominance means few teams can consistently beat them.

The pattern: Bournemouth’s two victories—both by a single goal—highlight vulnerability when City’s high line is breached on the counter, but no team has cracked City’s system with sustained success.

How much did Man City buy Haaland for?

Erling Haaland joined Manchester City in July 2022 for a transfer fee of €60 million, activating a release clause in his Borussia Dortmund contract. The deal was announced in May 2022, according to ESPN (sports broadcaster).

Transfer fee and contract details

• Transfer fee: €60 million
• Contract length: 5 years (2022-2027)
• Agent fees and signing bonus estimated at €50 million total package

Haaland’s impact has been immediate: 22 goals in 27 matches in the 2025-26 season, plus 7 assists (ESPN).

What this means for Bournemouth: containing Haaland requires a compact defensive shape that limits space in behind—a tactic that worked for Bournemouth’s 1-0 win in 2021-22 but failed in most other meetings.

Who is Man City’s greatest all time player?

Manchester City fans and historians widely cite Colin Bell as the club’s greatest ever player. Bell, a midfielder who played from 1966 to 1979, scored 153 goals in 501 appearances and was a key figure in City’s golden era under Joe Mercer. The club’s official website calls him a “legend” (Manchester City Official Site (club archives)).

Colin Bell’s legacy

• 153 goals in 501 appearances
• Won First Division (1968), FA Cup (1969), League Cup (1970), European Cup Winners’ Cup (1970)
• Known for stamina, box-to-box play, and scoring from midfield

Other candidates for greatest player

• Sergio Agüero — all-time leading scorer (260 goals)
• David Silva — most assists in club history
• Vincent Kompany — captain of modern era, led multiple title wins

Why this matters: While modern superstars like Haaland and De Bruyne dominate headlines, Bell’s legacy anchors the club’s identity. For Bournemouth facing City, they’re up against a club built on generations of world-class talent.

For Bournemouth, the depth of City’s history means they face an institution that has rebuilt itself through multiple eras of elite talent.

Clarity check: confirmed vs unclear

Expert perspectives on the matchup

“Rodri was fined by the FA for comments about referees requiring neutrality, a rare public clash between a player and the governing body.”

FA disciplinary report, via BBC Sport (sports broadcaster)

“Colin Bell is the greatest player Manchester City have ever produced. His all-round ability set the standard.”

Manchester City official website, Club archives (primary source)

For Bournemouth, the challenge remains monumental: they have taken points from City only twice in 19 attempts. With City’s Haaland in blistering form and the Cherries enjoying their best-ever league position, the mismatch is both statistical and tactical. The implication for supporters is clear: expect a tight contest but trust the data — City’s historical dominance makes them heavy favourites, unless Bournemouth can replicate the counter-attacking blueprint of their 2021-22 upset. For manager Andoni Iraola, the decision is either to park the bus and hope for a repeat miracle, or to play open football and risk a heavy defeat.

For fans looking beyond the surface, the detailed head-to-head statistics paint a clear picture of a one-sided rivalry.

Frequently asked questions