Cardiff City vs. Man City
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Kick off: 3PM
Champions Manchester City will be looking to make it five wins from their first six Premier League matches when they travel to winless Cardiff City this afternoon.
The Citizens have performed well in the top flight in the opening stages of the season, but they head into this latest match on the back of a disappointing showing in their Champions League opener in midweek.
A third defeat on the spin in all competitions away at Chelsea last weekend has left Cardiff out of the EFL Cup and, of more concern to manager Neil Warnock, hovering one place above the relegation zone on goal difference alone.
City have had a tough start to life back in the top flight, having faced two of last season’s top six either side of the international break, with three more still to come in their next five outings – starting with this toughest test of the lot against Man City.
The Bluebirds’ creative problems seems to have been resolved, however, thanks to three goals in their defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea, ending a previous run of six hours and 55 minutes without netting on their top-flight return.
Warnock saw plenty of positives from the 3-2 loss to Arsenal and 4-1 reverse at Chelsea, having pushed the Gunners all the way in that most recent home outing, before travelling to Stamford Bridge with little fear and taking a shock lead.
Meanwhile, City’s “frustrating” defeat to Lyon, though, means that they head to South Wales under pressure to get things back on track.
With the games coming thick and fast in three different competitions, this is not the time for City to lose their momentum from last season.
The good news for the champions is that they are unbeaten in their last 21 league outings against promoted sides, stretching back to a 1-0 loss against Burnley in March 2015, although they did lose at Cardiff in their most recent league visit five years ago.
Man City possible XI: Ederson, Delph, Laporte, Otamendi, Walker, D.Silva, Fernandinho, B. Silva, Sane, Aguero, Sterling.
Cardiff City possible XI: Etheridge, Bennett, Bamba, Morrison, Manga, Hoilett, Ralls, Arter, Camarasa, Reid, Ward.