Last Updated on 19/03/2026 by Andy Clark
Bournemouth host Manchester United in Friday Night Football on Friday 20th March (8pm kick-off), and below you will find our Bournemouth vs Manchester United bet builder tips, predictions and the best free bet offers for the Premier League clash.
Our four-leg bet builder is priced at 55/1 with BetMGM, featuring an anytime goalscorer, a shots on target selection and two card picks.
Free Bets for Bournemouth vs Manchester United
Bournemouth vs Manchester United Bet Builder — 55/1 with BetMGM
Key Stats — Bournemouth vs Manchester United
- Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League matches but have drawn six of them, including each of their last four
- Bournemouth have drawn their last three home matches, with three 0-0s and a 1-1 in their last four overall
- Manchester United have won seven, drawn one and lost one of their nine matches under Michael Carrick
- Bruno Fernandes has scored twice in his last six matches and provided two assists against Aston Villa last weekend — he is also United’s designated penalty taker
- Luke Shaw has made a foul or more in each of his last 20 matches in all competitions and has been booked five times in that run, averaging 1.25 fouls per game this season
- Adam Scott has made eight fouls in his last three matches and was booked in the 1-1 home draw against Sunderland recently
- Marcus Tavernier hit the woodwork three times across his last two matches, registered an xG of 1.37 against Brentford alone, and had nine shots across those two games
Bournemouth Form and Match Preview
Bournemouth are still in with a chance of qualifying for Europe this season after their recent run of 10 league matches unbeaten. There have been a lot of draws in that run though, sharing the spoils in six of those matches and in each of their last four fixtures. In those last four games, there have been three 0-0’s and a 1-1 draw. At home, Bournemouth have drawn their last three matches.
The lack of goals is the concern for Andoni Iraola’s side heading into Friday night. Three consecutive 0-0s at the Vitality Stadium suggests a team that is hard to beat but struggling to unlock defences, and Manchester United’s improved defensive record under Carrick will make this a difficult assignment. That said, Marcus Tavernier has been desperately unlucky in recent weeks and is overdue a goal — the xG numbers suggest the chances are being created, even if the results have not reflected it.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Brooks, Scott, Christie, Rayan; Tavernier, Evanilson
Injuries: Justin Kluivert, Lewis Cook, Tyler Adams, Julio Soler
Manchester United Form and Match Preview
Manchester United took a big step towards a Champions League place with a 3-1 win over Aston Villa last weekend and Michael Carrick continues to put himself forward for the managerial role permanently with a series of good results. United have won seven, drawn one and lost one of the nine matches he has taken charge of, and they go into the weekend in third position, three points clear of Aston Villa in fourth, five clear of Liverpool in fifth, and, most importantly, six clear of Chelsea in sixth.
The transformation under Carrick has been remarkable. United look organised, energetic and dangerous going forward, and Bruno Fernandes has been at the heart of everything good about their play — two assists against Villa last weekend underlined just how influential he has become in this system. With a Champions League place firmly in their sights, United will be fully motivated to pick up three points on the road on Friday night, and Carrick’s side have shown they have the quality to do exactly that.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Injuries: De Ligt, Dorgu, Martinez. Doubt: Mazraoui
Bournemouth vs Manchester United Bet Builder Tips
Bruno Fernandes to Score Anytime — 12/5
Fernandes has been the catalyst to this Manchester United improvement and he put in another brilliant display against Aston Villa last weekend, especially in the second half. He didn’t score in that game but provided two assists. He has scored twice in his last six matches and in the games where he has scored, he’s had three shots on target against Crystal Palace, and two against Tottenham. With Fernandes also on penalties for United, it adds to the chances of him getting on the scoresheet for our bet builder tip.
With Fernandes on penalty duties, his goal threat extends beyond open play — a single United penalty in this fixture puts him firmly in the frame regardless of how the game is flowing. His two assists against Villa last weekend are a reminder that he is currently in the form of his life, and a player averaging a goal involvement every other game in recent weeks is a strong candidate to score against a Bournemouth side that has struggled for goals themselves and may be forced to open up on Friday night. At 12/5, this is the value leg of the builder.
Luke Shaw to Be Booked — 5/2
Luke Shaw has got a good run in the United side as he looks to book his place in the England World Cup 2026 squad, but he will be up against the tricky Rayan in this one. That lends itself to betting on Shaw to be carded in the match. He has made a foul or more in his last 20 matches in all competitions, and he’s been booked five times in that run. He averages 1.25 fouls per game this season. Rayan has been a shining light since arriving at Bournemouth and his pace will certainly trouble Shaw on Friday night.
The World Cup qualification context is worth noting here. Shaw will be pushing hard to impress in every game between now and the summer, which means he will be fully committed defensively rather than taking any shortcuts. That mentality — combined with the challenge of facing a pacey winger — is precisely the scenario that tends to produce a booking for a fullback who already averages 1.25 fouls per game. Five bookings in 20 matches is a booking rate of one in four, and at 5/2 this is a well-priced selection with strong statistical backing.
Adam Scott to Be Booked — 19/10
Bournemouth’s midfielder Adam Scott is also tipped to get a booking in this one. He has made eight fouls in his last three matches and faces the clever combination of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the midfield battle here. Scott was booked in the 1-1 home draw against Sunderland recently, and it will be no surprise to see him rack up some fouls in this one, and hopefully, for our bet, a yellow card.
Eight fouls in three matches is a foul rate of nearly three per game, and the midfield battle he faces here could not be more difficult. Casemiro and Fernandes are both players who move the ball quickly and draw defenders out of position, which is exactly the kind of challenge that forces a physical midfielder into needless fouls. Scott was already booked in his last home match, and facing arguably United’s strongest midfield combination of the Carrick era, the referee will be keeping a close eye on him from early on. At 19/10, this is the most competitively priced leg of the builder and the one that most reliably adds value to the combined odds.
Marcus Tavernier 1+ Shot on Target — 10/11
Tavernier has been so unlucky not to score in his past two matches. He hit the woodwork twice against Brentford in their last home match, racking up an xG of 1.37, and then hit the post again in Bournemouth’s last match against Burnley. He had four attempts at goal in that game and five against Brentford. Tavernier to have a shot on target is the bet for this one, but to increase the odds of the bet builder, you could also go with him to score anytime in the match. He is also Bournemouth’s penalty taker.
Nine shots across two matches, three separate incidents of hitting the woodwork, and an xG of 1.37 in a single game — the underlying numbers are screaming that a goal is coming for Tavernier, and soon. His penalty-taking duties further add to the case, giving him a route to both a shot on target and a goal that does not rely entirely on open play. With the Vitality Stadium crowd behind him on Friday night and the momentum of near-misses fuelling his confidence, at least one shot on target at 10/11 looks a strong proposition.
Bournemouth vs Manchester United Bet Builder Summary
| Selection | Odds |
|---|---|
| Bruno Fernandes to score anytime | 12/5 |
| Luke Shaw to be booked | 5/2 |
| Adam Scott to be booked | 19/10 |
| Marcus Tavernier 1+ shot on target | 10/11 |
| Combined odds | 55/1 with BetMGM |
Alternative Bet — Marcus Tavernier to Score Anytime
If you want to push for an even bigger return from this bet builder, swapping Tavernier 1+ shot on target for Tavernier to score anytime will significantly increase the combined odds. With nine shots in two matches, three woodwork strikes, and penalty-taking duties at the Vitality Stadium, the anytime scorer market offers genuine value and represents the natural upgrade from the shot on target selection for those who want to chase a bigger price.
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Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers. The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest weeks on the sporting calendar, and his expertise in betting promotions and marketing means you always get the best offers.