Manchester City to Move Back to the Top

2395

Thanks to the FA Cup quarter-finals and upcoming semi-finals we have some games to enjoy in the Premier League this week.

Arguably the most important in terms of the title race and the relegation battle is the game between Manchester City and Cardiff City.  The game will be played at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

Manchester City are 2 points behind Liverpool in the table but have this game in hand. They know a win will move them back to the top ahead of the FA Cup on the weekend.  Cardiff City occupy the final relegation place and they are 5 points adrift of safety.

Pep Guardiola’s team looked impressive during the 2-0 win at Fulham on Saturday.  They took control of the game from the first whistle and the early goal meant the win was never in doubt.  Sergio Aguero got a second before half-time and Manchester City eased to victory.

That win means Manchester City have won each of their last twelve matches in all competitions including the League Cup final and trends show they have lost only one of their last twenty-one games, winning the other twenty.

Manchester City have won each of their last six home Premier League matches and have won fourteen of the last fifteen on home soil.  They have scored 3 or more goals in four of their last five and conceded just 2 goals across those five games.

Cardiff City took a 1-0 lead at home against Chelsea on the weekend but could not see it through. They ended up losing the game 2-1 thanks to the concession of a late goal and Neil Warnock was less than impressed with the match officials.

However, the Bluebirds cannot afford to dwell on that match and they need to concentrate on picking up their form having lost four of their last five games.  There have been defeats in the Premier League at home against Watford, Everton and Chelsea plus away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Cardiff City’s away record does show two wins in their last five matches but they were at Leicester City and Southampton, neither of which are of the same level as Manchester City.  Trends show Cardiff City have conceded 2 or more goals in three of their last four away league games and have kept just three clean sheets on the road this season.

Team news and Manchester City are sweating on the fitness of Sergio Aguero, who came off early against Fulham.  Fabian Delph and Claudio Bravo are the only two players expected definitely to miss out.

Cardiff City travel without central defenders Souleymane Bamba who is out for the rest of the season and Matthew Connolly who is ill.  Callum Paterson and Jazz Richards are doubtful.

This match has a home win written all over it.  Manchester City will see this as an opportunity to add to their goal difference and they could easily score 3 or 4 goals in this game.