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Man City vs A.F.C. Bournemouth Timeline – Full Match History Since 1987

Henry Edward Bennett Howard • 2026-03-09 • Reviewed by Maya Thompson

Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth have contested between 24 and 25 competitive matches since their initial meeting in December 1987, establishing one of the most lopsided head-to-head records in English football history. Manchester City have defeated Bournemouth in 21 to 22 of these encounters, with the Cherries securing victory just once and the remaining two results ending in draws.

The timeline spans multiple tiers of English football, from League Division Two clashes in the late 1980s to contemporary Premier League battles. Manchester City remained unbeaten against Bournemouth for 37 years until November 2024, when AFC Bournemouth recorded their solitary victory.

Recent fixtures continue to demonstrate City’s overwhelming superiority, with eight victories in the last ten meetings. The most recent encounter on May 20, 2025, saw Manchester City secure a 3-1 Premier League victory at the Etihad Stadium.

How Does Manchester City’s Record Against AFC Bournemouth Break Down?

Total Matches24–25Depending on competition scope
Manchester City Wins21–22Official records
AFC Bournemouth Wins1November 2024
Draws21989, 1999
  1. Unbeaten Streak: Manchester City went 21 matches without defeat against Bournemouth between 1987 and 2024.
  2. Solitary Victory: Bournemouth’s only win came on November 2, 2024, with a 2-1 Premier League result at Vitality Stadium.
  3. Decisive Margins: City’s largest victory was a 6-1 home triumph on November 4, 2023.
  4. Early Dominance: City won the first 14 Premier League meetings following Bournemouth’s 2015 promotion by an aggregate score of 45-7.
  5. Home Fortress: Bournemouth remains winless in all visits to the Etihad Stadium.
  6. Leading Scorer: Raheem Sterling has netted nine Premier League goals in this fixture, more than any other player.
  7. Recent Form: Across the last ten meetings, Manchester City has secured eight victories.
Milestone Details
First Meeting December 1, 1987 (League Division Two)
Most Recent May 20, 2025 (Premier League)
Manchester City Biggest Win 6-1 (November 4, 2023)
AFC Bournemouth Biggest Win 2-1 (November 2, 2024)
Longest Unbeaten Run 21 matches (Manchester City, 1987–2024)
Premier League Record 18–20 wins, 0–2 draws, 1 loss
Etihad Stadium Record 0 Bournemouth wins
Aggregate Goals (City) 56+ (Premier League only)
Aggregate Goals (Bournemouth) 13+ (Premier League only)

How Has This Fixture Evolved Across Different Eras?

The rivalry between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth divides naturally into three distinct periods, reflecting the clubs’ divergent historical trajectories. Initial encounters occurred in the lower divisions when both clubs operated outside England’s top tier, followed by a prolonged period of Premier League dominance by City, and finally a recent historic upset.

Early Meetings in the Lower Divisions (1987–1999)

The inaugural fixture took place on December 1, 1987, in League Division Two, with Manchester City securing a 2-0 victory at Dean Court. Three subsequent meetings occurred before the millennium, including a 3-3 draw on May 6, 1989, and a goalless draw on February 13, 1999, resulting in three City wins and two draws from five encounters in England’s third tier.

Premier League Dominance (2015–2024)

Following Bournemouth’s promotion to the Premier League in 2015, Manchester City won every single league meeting between the clubs for nine consecutive years. This run included seven matches where City scored four or more goals, demonstrating a gulf in resources and squad depth. The aggregate score across the first 14 Premier League fixtures stood at 45-7 in City’s favor.

Historical Unbeaten Sequence

Manchester City maintained an undefeated streak against AFC Bournemouth spanning 37 years and 21 matches across all competitions, beginning with their first meeting in 1987 and ending only in November 2024.

The Recent Shift (2024–2025)

November 2, 2024, marked a watershed moment when Bournemouth defeated City 2-1 at Vitality Stadium. However, City responded with victories in the subsequent three encounters, including an FA Cup quarter-final on March 30, 2025, and the Premier League fixture on May 20, 2025.

Which Competitions and Players Define This Rivalry?

Breakdown by Competition

The bulk of fixtures have occurred in the Premier League, with 19 to 20 recorded meetings producing 18 to 20 Manchester City victories. The EFL Cup has hosted one encounter, won 2-1 by City on September 24, 2020. The FA Cup produced one meeting on March 30, 2025, with City advancing via a 2-1 scoreline. Lower division encounters between 1987 and 1999 accounted for three to four City wins and two draws.

Individual Goal Scoring Records

Raheem Sterling has established himself as the fixture’s most prolific marksman, scoring nine Premier League goals against Bournemouth. Phil Foden and Sergio Agüero follow with five goals each in the competition. These individual tallies underscore the one-way nature of the rivalry during the Premier League era.

What Patterns Explain Manchester City’s Dominance?

Statistical analysis reveals pronounced home advantage for Manchester City, who have never dropped points to Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium. The average goal margin in City’s favor across all Premier League meetings exceeds two goals per game.

Bournemouth’s difficulty in penetrating City’s defensive structure is reflected in the aggregate statistics, with the Cherries scoring only 13 goals across approximately 20 Premier League encounters while conceding 56.

Etihad Fortress

AFC Bournemouth has failed to secure a single victory or draw in any competitive visit to Manchester City’s home stadium, with every trip to the Etihad resulting in defeat since the fixture’s inception.

What Is the Chronological History of Every Meeting?

  1. : Bournemouth 0-2 Manchester City (League Division Two) — Source
  2. : Manchester City 3-3 Bournemouth (League Division Two)
  3. : Manchester City 5-1 Bournemouth (Premier League) — Source
  4. : Bournemouth 0-4 Manchester City (Premier League)
  5. : Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth (EFL Cup)
  6. : Manchester City 6-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
  7. : Bournemouth 0-1 Manchester City (Premier League)
  8. : Bournemouth 2-1 Manchester City (Premier League)
  9. : Bournemouth 1-2 Manchester City (FA Cup)
  10. : Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)

What Is Established Fact Versus Pending Information?

Verified Information Uncertain or Pending
All match results from December 1987 through May 2025 are confirmed in official records Source Future Premier League fixtures beyond May 2025 remain unscheduled as of current data
Bournemouth has won exactly one competitive fixture (November 2, 2024) Source Specific dates for 2025-26 season encounters have not been released
Manchester City has never lost at home to Bournemouth in any competition Potential cup draws for future meetings are subject to random selection

Why Does This Historical Record Matter?

The head-to-head record illustrates the shifting power dynamics within English football over four decades. Manchester City’s rise to dominance coincided with increased investment and global recruitment, while Bournemouth’s sporadic presence in the top flight reflects the challenges facing smaller clubs. The timeline serves as a statistical record of one club’s sustained supremacy over another, punctuated only by a single result in 2024 that broke a 37-year pattern. For access to live coverage of future fixtures, viewers can consult Now TV Sky Sports – Passes, Prices and How to Watch.

Where Does This Historical Data Originate?

Manchester City hold a dominant head-to-head record against AFC Bournemouth across 25-27 total matches (depending on source scope), with 21-22 wins, 2 draws, and just 1 loss to Bournemouth.

— Sports Mole

Comprehensive chronological data dating back to the inaugural 1987 fixture confirms Manchester City’s unbeaten run until November 2024.

— 11v11

Additional verification comes from Premier League official archives and historical databases maintained by BBC Sport. You can find the complete match history between Manchester City and Bournemouth at Арсенал проти Ньюкасла.

What Is the Essential Takeaway From This Head-to-Head History?

Manchester City’s record against AFC Bournemouth represents one of English football’s most one-sided rivalries, with 22 victories from 25 meetings and only a single defeat in November 2024 interrupting nearly four decades of supremacy. While Bournemouth’s recent victory demonstrates the potential for upset in modern football, City’s subsequent three consecutive wins suggest the historical imbalance remains firmly intact. For updated fixture information and results, see Football Scores and Fixtures – FA Cup Quarters and Live Results.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did AFC Bournemouth first beat Manchester City?

Bournemouth secured their first victory over Manchester City on November 2, 2024, winning 2-1 at Vitality Stadium in the Premier League.

What is Manchester City’s biggest victory over Bournemouth?

City’s largest margin of victory was 6-1 at the Etihad Stadium on November 4, 2023, during the Premier League campaign.

How many times have the teams met in the Premier League?

Records indicate between 19 and 20 Premier League meetings, with Manchester City winning 18 to 20 of those encounters and Bournemouth winning one.

Who has scored the most goals in this fixture?

Raheem Sterling leads Premier League scorers in this matchup with nine goals, followed by Phil Foden and Sergio Agüero with five each.

When did the clubs first play each other?

The inaugural meeting occurred on December 1, 1987, in League Division Two, with Manchester City winning 2-0 at Dean Court.

Has Bournemouth ever won at the Etihad Stadium?

No. AFC Bournemouth remains winless in all visits to Manchester City’s home ground, with every away fixture resulting in a City victory.

What was the result of the most recent match?

The latest encounter on May 20, 2025, saw Manchester City defeat Bournemouth 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.

Henry Edward Bennett Howard

About the author

Henry Edward Bennett Howard

Henry Edward Bennett Howard is a senior writer at Morning Times, covering UK news, politics, business and lifestyle. He works to the newsroom's sourcing and fact-checking standards, verifying key claims against primary and reputable secondary sources so that each article is accurate, clearly attributed and useful to readers.