Match Preview: Manchester City vs. Stoke City - Barclays English Premier League
Stoke City will meet Manchester City at Eastlands on Tuesday, May 17th, to avenge their FA Cup defeat at the hands of Mancini’s men. Three days back at Wembley Stadium, Manchester City went on to lift the FA Cup with Yaya Toure’s sole goal of
the match the difference between the two sides.
Roberto Mancini’s team looks keen in starting a new era, as they have for the very first time in their history, qualified for the UEFA Champions League by finishing in the top four of the English Premier League. It took Manchester City an enduring 35 years
to end their trophy drought.
Manchester City
It is expected that Roberto Mancini will make some changes among his FA Cup winning squad with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adam-Johnson-c3537 expected to make a return in the playing eleven.
However, Kolo Toure and Jerome Boateng have been sidelined because of a knee injury and suspension, respectively.
Manchester City has a perfect opportunity to benefit from, as they can climb to the third spot, ahead of Arsenal, by winning their remaining games against Stoke and Bolton to earn automatic qualification for the next UEFA Champions League.
Stoke City needs to come up with creative plans at Eastlands, otherwise Manchester City will run away with the show because they have a good record at home this season.
City has won 12, drawn four and lost two matches at Eastlands this season.
City’s shot-stopper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Joe-Hart-c18699, would pose the greatest threat to Stoke, as he has kept 16 clean sheets this season, the most by any goalkeeper in this term.
Along with Hart, the skipper, Carlos Tevez, can create magic with his foot as he has already scored 22 goals in all competitions for City.
Head to Head
This will be the 98th time the two teams face each other in a competitive match. Manchester City holds a comparatively better record, winning 41 times compared to Stoke’s 36 victories.
Three of the last five meetings between the two teams have ended with a 1-1 draw.
Stoke City
Stoke City’s manager, Tony Pulis, has some really important decisions to make about the inclusion of some of his key players.
Pulis took a big risk in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat by inducting http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robert-Huth-c31243, with a knee problem, in the playing eleven.
Stoke City has a terrible record away from home this season, winning only three of their 18 away games. They lost 12 and drew 3.
The recent form of Stoke in the Premier League is impressive as they have lost only one of their last seven league encounters.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jermaine-Pennant-c18364 was seen limping off the field in the FA Cup final after hurting his ankle but he is expected to be fit for the match.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thomas-Sørensen-c34994 as Stoke’s goalkeeper. Fuller Sidibe has been ruled out of the match due to an achilles injury while Higginbotham will also sit out due to a knee injury.
Prediction
It will be a nerve wreaking game while City seems to be the better side, having better strikers including Tevez. The match is expected to be a low scoring game with City winning it by 2-1.
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