Atalanta preview.

With, apparently, a ‘big game’ at the weekend coming up, it’ll be interesting to see what personnel are chosen to face our Italian hosts tonight; in a Champions League game where a City win will see us progress to the knock-out stage with 2 games still to go!

If that happens, it should go some way to-easing the pressure on our players as the fixture list heads into the ‘congestion season’ after the next international break.

v Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio

San Siro (temporary ground-share as Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia is being redeveloped)

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: A lowly 6/11).

4-1-4-1:

____________________Jesus____________________

Sterling________________________________Mahrez

__________De Bruyne________B. Silva___________

__________________Gundogan__________________

Mendy_________________________________Cancelo

____________Garcia_________Otamendi__________

___________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Bravo, Angelino, Walker, Stones, Fernandinho, Doyle, Aguero.

I think this is tough one for Pep to balance – a set of scales where, on one side, he’ll want to put the group stage of this competition behind us for reasons I’ve already given but, of course also, he won’t want to risk ‘big players’ with injury or fatigue ahead of such a key, league fixture on Sunday.

Having said that, his hand is being forced to some degree due to the players he has on his ‘not available’ list…

I can’t see a reason why our manager would not choose his ‘number 1’ keeper for this one, so I’m going for Ederson in net.

Both being rested in the last game, I think we’ll see a full player rotation in the wing-back positions, with Benjamin & Joao starting tonight. In between those, I’m going for Guardiola to pick Eric & Nicolas.

Ilkay likely to be asked to ‘sit deep’ in front of those and with available midfielders reduced in numbers for this fixture, our manager may be forced to pitch a ‘strong 4’ ahead of the German in Raheem, Kevin, Bernardo & Riyad.

Gabriel to start up front, I’m sure.

Claudio the reserve stopper and then we have a rested / protected defensive 4 of Angelino, Kyle, John & Fernandinho on the side in case needed. I can see central / attacking midfielder Tommy being given a place on the bench and, if so, he might get some considerable minutes should the circumstances suit. Sergio is our only striking option from ‘the 7’ but is unlikely to see any / many minutes, I recon.

Notable absences:

-       Phil Foden – Suspended for this game.

-       Oleksandr Zinchenko – Injured for around 4 to 4-½ weeks.

-       Aymeric Laporte – Expected to be back from injury around March 2020.

-       Rodri – Expected to be fit again in about 2-½ weeks.

-       David Silva – Picked up a muscular injury at the weekend and is likely to be out for another week-to-10-days (just what we didn’t need).

-       Leroy Sane – Expected to return form injury sometime in January 2020 (that doesn’t sound too long now!).

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Yep…and I’m hoping early in the second half we can start to withdraw the likes of Raheem, Kevin & Bernardo / Riyad.

Result? I think this’ll be a tough away fixture for us.

The home side need 2 wins to have ANY chance of going through to the next stage in second place and although their mini-league record in this competition looks woeful, they are still doing reasonably well in Serie A; sitting, as they do, 5^th and on the same points as teams either side of them. They’re also undefeated in the last 4 league games.

As I mentioned before the reverse leg, they have dangerous, attacking players but, on the other hand, they tend to be “leaky” too.

I was, in fact, actually leaning towards predicting a draw but, instead, my instincts tell me that this’ll be a narrow away win.

I just hope our players don’t strain themselves TOO much in pursuit of 3 points tonight…

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: This forecast sounds like we’re playing this game at home! A chance of light rain as the referee blows his whistle to start the match and 7C is about as “warm” as it’s gonna get too. The chances of more ‘wet stuff’ diminishes, though, as the game goes on at least.

Saints - part deux

(Saints Part 1 blog-posting link)

Well, we face the south coast side at home again just 4 days after we pushed past them in the League Cup to secure ourselves a quarter final trip to Oxford United and, for this match-up, I’m sure there’ll be changes in both starting 11s.

v Southampton

Eithad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 7/11, in the midweek, cup game)

Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

____________________Jesus____________________

Sterling________________________________Mahrez

__________D. Silva___________De Bruyne________

__________________Gundogan__________________

Mendy_________________________________Cancelo

__________Fernandinho_____Otamendi____________

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Bravo, Angelino, Walker, Stones, Foden, B. Silva, Aguero.

Ederson comes back to be our last line of defence.

Suspended and, therefore, rested-also last Tuesday; Fernandinho is likely to ‘get the nod’ from our manager to act as central defender…although with other options in that position now available and with Rodri currently injured; there’s a good argument that he should move up the pitch and take his old job back for now. However, that’s what I’m predicting and, guessing also, that he’ll be partnered by Nicolas in the heart of the defence. Benjamin almost certain to take up the left-wing back slot and with Walker getting more minutes on the pitch than his right-wing back colleague; I think Joao will start tomorrow afternoon.

Completely rested / protected, as he was, last Tuesday strongly suggests to me that Ilkay will be asked to start and play the defensive midfield role, with a trio of also-rested players coming back into ‘the 11’ ahead of the German in the form of Raheem, David & Kevin. It’s definitely a ‘toss up’ who gets the right-wing job, as both played the ‘full 90+’ on Tuesday and both had good games. I think Riyad might have edged Bernardo on the night though and if Pep saw that too and uses that as 'a decider', then I think the Algerian will be chosen over the Portuguese international tomorrow.

I think the rotation will continue in the striking department (if you can call 2 strikers a “department”), with Gabriel starting up front and ahead of all that craft & creativity.

Claudio sits back on the bench; Angelino, Kyle & John provide defensive replacement options form the side. Phil, Bernardo and Sergio are in ‘the 7’ as creative / attacking change-options.

Notable absences:

-       Oleksandr Zinchenko – Out for around 4-½ to 5-more weeks following knee surgery.

-       Aymeric Laporte – Expected return of around March 2020.

-       Rodri – Expected to be ready in about 3-weeks’ time.

-       Leroy Sane – Expected return of around January 2020.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

I think I’d be tempted to stick 'a Stones & Otto combination' in the middle of the defence and use 'Fern' as the defensive midfielder but I’m fine with that.

Result? I’m sure a changed Southampton side will be looking to grab something from the game as they hope not to slip further into trouble and might, therefore, provide a stiffer test than they did in midweek.

But we’re bringing back so many strong, top-quality players that I just can’t see anything other than a City win and, in some ways, I fear for our visitors a little following their last league drubbing. So, it’s a home win for me.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: Win

Result: Win

(There was no pre-match blog posting for that game as I had just come back from holiday and didn’t have enough time)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Well, as is often the case around this time of year when you swap cold for slightly milder temperatures…the rain comes with it. After rain throughout half of the night prior to the game, the pitch starts to receive its next dose of water from around 7am on match-day, which is going to get heavier for a time and most-certainly lasts right throughout the game and continues also as the fans make their way home. Marvellous. Shouldn’t affect the play too much though, I wouldn’t think; as the playing area was ‘pounded on’ both before & during the Villa game recently and I didn’t notice any issues because of it…