Manchester City needs to win at Southampton

Manchester City are currently third-place in the Premier League table, but are not assured a place in the Champions League just yet. The Citizens head into this weekend five points clear of arch-rivals Manchester United, but Louis van Gaal’s team have a game in-hand.

The Citizens head to Southampton on Sunday, with the Saints still pushing for a top-six finish and a possible place in the Europa League next season.

With a Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday against Real Madrid, Sunday’s clash may not be regarded as a priority. City boss Manuel Pellegrini may choose to rest some players, but in truth they cannot afford to.

Rivals United play earlier in the day against champions-elect Leicester and could move to within two points of the Citizens in the table. If City then loses against the Saints, which is not an unrealistic result, then City could be looking nervously over their shoulders at United.

Pellegrini has a delicate balancing act in keeping players fresh for that crucial semi-final and making sure the Citizens secure a Champions League spot for next season. The Chilean cannot afford to prioritise City’s European campaign, even if City does have a chance to make history.

City would gain entrance to Europe’s elite competition if they win the Champions League, but they still have to negotiate some big hurdles for that to happen, namely Real Madrid.

Manchester City started the campaign as one of the favourites to win the title, so for the Citizens to miss out on the top-four would be unthinkable. That is a real possibility if Pellegrini’s side do not take the game at Southampton seriously.