Manchester City host Cardiff City this Saturday in the Barclays Premier League and currently sit second on 47 points whilst challenging on four fronts this season for trophies.
Cardiff City, however, find themselves in the bottom 3 after weeks of speculation resulted in the departure of manager Malkay Mackay and his replacement Ole Gunnar Solksjaer faces a huge job in keeping them up. Not many would have predicted Mackay would have lost his job after Cardiff’s impressive 3-2 over Manchester City in the earlier fixture between the two teams this season.
Manchester City are in daunting and imperious form at home this season: they have won all their Barclays Premier League games at The Etihad Stadium and in the process they have scored 38 goals. Not only that, Manchester City have not lost a league game since November 10th 2013.
Cardiff on the other hand haven’t even managed 38 goals throughout the season so far and the way they are going they may not hit that total. They are in a torrid run of form both in front of goal and in general.
Cardiff have not won in their last 5 Barclays Premier League games, with their last win coming on the 14th December. Their only away victory this season came way back in September 2013, a 2-1 win away at Fulham.
Interesting facts
The Welsh side have failed to score in five of their last six Premier League away matches, netting just once in the other.
Man City are looking to record their seventh successive Premier League win in this game, something only achieved by one team last season, their bitter rivals, Manchester United.
This is the first time Cardiff have visited Manchester City in any competition since March 1985 when they escaped with a point after a 2-2 draw.
Team News
Manchester City should have both David Silva and Yaya Toure back from niggling injuries for this clash. They will still be without Samir Nasri (knee), Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) and Jack Rodwell (hamstring).
Cardiff City are without Jordan Mutch and Andrew Taylor due to long term injuries, however there could be starts for both new signings, Matts Moller Daelhi and Magnus Wolffe Eikrem.
Key Men
Alvaro Negredo
What a first season this man has had. With 21 goals in all competitions so far, Negredo had led the line wonderfully well in Sergio Aguero’s absence. N
ot only does he score but he assists as well.
With 17 chances created and 3 goal assists to his name so far, Negredo really is an impressive threat going forward.
David Marshall
When playing for a team that does not score many, the only way to win games is to keep clean sheets. Marshall has had an impressive season so far for Cardiff and they will need that to continue if they want to 1) get something from this game and 2) stay in the Barclays Premier League. With 5 clean sheets already this season, Cardiff and Marshall will hope to at least double that number if they want to succeed in staying up.
Match Prediction
There can only be one outcome in this game I’m afraid. I fully expect Manchester City to keep their 100% league home form going and in the process score their 100th goal of the season.
Cardiff should be well organised and initially tricky to break down but I would expect a comfortable 4-0 victory for the Citizens.
