Swansea vs. Manchester City: Team News, Live Stream, TV Info and Ticket News
Sunday sees Manchester City travel to Swansea for what will be Manuel Pellegrini’s final game in charge.
Pep Guardiola will assume control of City on July 1, leaving Pellegrini to find another club, but before then there’s the small matter of UEFA Champions League qualification that needs sorting.
City will finish in the top four if they can get a point at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, thanks to Manchester United’s defeat to West Ham earlier this week. Defeat would leave them vulnerable, though, with three points for United, who play Bournemouth at home, enough to overtake them.
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The fact it has ended up being so tight for City is hugely frustrating for their fans, who fully expected them to mount a strong title challenge, particularly after the strong start that saw the team win their first five matches without conceding a goal.
Pellegrini defended his record earlier this week, saying the fans have enjoyed the style with which his side have played.
"During the three seasons, the fans always tell me that they enjoy our games.
"It's about a style, and for me it's important to be the highest-scoring team for three seasons, to be always in the Champions League and to win three titles."
Swansea have improved significantly since Francesco Guidolin was appointed in late January, with more than half of their Premier League wins this season coming under his tutelage. Their last two games have yielded six points thanks to impressive wins over West Ham United and Liverpool.
Date: Sunday, May 15
Kick-off: 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET
TV Listings: Sky Sports 2/HD (UK) and NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK)
"Want to watch #swansvcity? Look no further than our global TV listings! 🌍 📺 👉 https://t.co/NT8WWjdpHJ #mcfc pic.twitter.com/rNrB5d2oBU
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) May 14, 2016"
Match Appointments
Referee: Mike Dean Assistants: J Collin, S Long Fourth Official: A Marriner
"Luke Moore was our match-winner when #MCFC came to the Liberty Stadium in March 2012. #swanshttps://t.co/rJyuvzEpdT
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) May 13, 2016"
Form Guide
Swansea
West Ham United 1-4 Swansea
Swansea 3-1 Liverpool
Leicester City 4-0 Swansea
Newcastle United 3-0 Swansea
Swansea 1-0 Chelsea
Manchester City
Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal
Real Madrid 1-0 Manchester City (Champions League)
Southampton 4-2 Manchester City
Manchester City 0-0 Real Madrid (Champions League)
Manchester City 4-0 Stoke City
".@aguerosergiokun's on 24 ⚽
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) May 14, 2016"
Jamie Vardy's on 24 ⚽
Harry Kane's on 25 ⚽#CMONCITY, you can do it, Sergio! #mcfc pic.twitter.com/A3vsBmATsU
Predicted Formations
Swansea
It's an unusual policy—but Guidolin could rest four players who will be going to this summer's European Championships, with Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Lukasz Fabianski all set to watch from afar.
Jefferson Montero and Alberto Paloschi are out with hamstring injuries.
Swansea City (from): Nordfeldt, Vickers, Zabret, Amat, Bartley, Fernandez, Naughton, Rangel, Ayew, Britton, Cork, Fer, Fulton, Grimes, Ki, Lucas, Montero, Routledge, Barrow, Emnes, Gomis, Paloschi.
Predicted XI: Nordfeldt; Naughton, Fernandez, Amat, Kingsley; Cork, Fer; Barrow, Ki, Routledge; Ayew.
"Francesco Guidolin speaks about his new contract, Sunday's game against #MCFC and the support of the Jack Army.https://t.co/GyyQ6RY2ew
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) May 13, 2016"
Manchester City
Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Pablo Zabaleta are all confirmed absentees, while Aleksandar Kolarov is a doubt. Samir Nasri is back from illness.
Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Mangala, Otamendi, Sagna, De Bruyne, Delph, Fernandinho, Fernando, Nasri, Navas, Toure, A Garcia, M Garcia, Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho, Sterling, Celina.
Predicted XI: Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho, Toure; Navas, De Bruyne, Aguero.
"Good morning City! Tomorrow can't come soon enough... Anyone feeling like this? #swansvcity #mcfc pic.twitter.com/O3UCGTAIy6
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) May 14, 2016"
Players To Watch
Swansea: Andre Ayew
It was something of a coup when Swansea convinced Andre Ayew to join them on a free transfer from Marseille last summer.
The 26-year-old has scored 11 in 33 league games this season, bringing a touch of quality to the Swansea side.
He's been asked to lead the line in recent matches and has bagged three in his last two. He's unpredictable, at times, but it works. Defenders struggle to contain him.
Manchester City: Joe Hart
Joe Hart is chasing the Premier League clean sheet record once again. He has kept 15 so far this season and goes into the final day level with Petr Cech, Kasper Schmeichel and David De Gea.
Hart has won the Golden Gloves award four times. Another clean sheet on Sunday may see him secure a fifth as an outright winner.
He's been superb for City this season, perhaps their most consistent performer.
"Hart: 15 clean sheets
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) May 14, 2016"
Cech: 15 clean sheets
Schmeichel: 15 clean sheets
De Gea: 15 clean sheets
One more Joe! #mcfc pic.twitter.com/bPZxo6gdNN
Ticket Information
For ticket information on all Premier League games, visit the official site or go to the ticket page on the home club's official website.
Odds
Swansea: +314
Manchester City: -132
Draw: +283
(via Odds Shark)
Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard.
