Manchester City vs. Middlesbrough: Team News, Preview, Live Stream and TV Info
After stunning Barcelona 3-1 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, Manchester City will switch their focus back to the Premier League on Saturday, as they welcome Middlesbrough to the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side purred against the Spanish champions in midweek, as a brace from Ilkay Gundogan and a stunning free-kick from Kevin De Bruyne gave City one of the biggest results in their history. The challenge for the players will be to preserve those levels.
If they do, Middlesbrough will be in for a tough afternoon, although Aitor Karanka’s side have enjoyed an upturn in form themselves as of late. Should they salvage anything from their trip to the north west, it’d be a huge success.
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Here’s the key viewing details for the contest and a look at how both sides are shaping up ahead of this fixture.
Date: Saturday, November 5
Time: 3 p.m. (GMT), 11 a.m. (ET)
Live Stream: NBCSN (U.S.)
TV Info: NBC Sports Live (U.S.)
Team News
Guardiola will be able to recall Claudio Bravo back into the XI following his suspension in midweek. Otherwise, Fernandinho, Bacary Sagna and Fabian Delph are all doubts for the fixture with injury problems.
Karanka will be without Gaston Ramirez for this one after he picked up his fifth booking of the season against Bournemouth. Daniel Ayala and Christian Stuani are both fitness concerns ahead of the clash, too.
Team news taken from the Premier League website.
Likely XIs
Manchester City: Claudio Bravo; John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Vincent Kompany; Leroy Sane, Ilkay Gundogan, Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling; David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero
Middlesbrough: Victor Valdes; Antonio Barragan, Ben Gibson, Daniel Ayala, George Friend; Adam Forwshaw, Adam Clayton, Stuart Downing, Marten de Roon, Adama Traore; Alvaro Negredo
Match Preview
A run of six games without a win did put some pressure on Guardiola at the Etihad. However, the performance levels of City against West Bromwich Albion and then Barcelona show this group of players remains the team to beat in English football's top flight.
While Aguero, Silva, De Bruyne and Sterling have all starred at times this term, at the moment the standout man in sky blue is Gundogan. The midfielder arrived injured from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, but he’s been worth the wait for the City faithful.
Not only has he netted four times in two games, the Germany international has controlled the tempo of matches supremely. Jonathan Northcroft of the Sunday Times has been impressed with him:
Shutting down the intuitive patterns between the City stars is going to be crucial for Boro if they’re to get anything from this game. However, Karanka’s side are renowned for their cohesion off the ball and ability to stifle opponents.
It’s exactly what they did against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium recently, securing a 0-0 draw. The Gunners have been flying this term, but Boro were able to nullify the many creative threats they possess, before exerting their own stamp on the contest. Eventually, they were unlucky not to take all three points back to the north east.
One of the key factors in their positive recent form has been the thrust provided by Adama Traore on the flank. Per Oliver Holt of the Mail on Sunday, he was a huge threat on the break at the Emirates:
Arguably City pose an even more testing opponent than Arsenal. The attacking diversity they’ve operated with in their last two matches has been irresistible; it means if Boro focus on shutting down Aguero or Gundogan, there’ll be space for the likes of Sterling, De Bruyne and Silva to revel in.
Karanka’s side have enough to frustrate the hosts for some spells in the game and will be looking to former City man Negredo to offer an outlet up top. However, eventually the pressure they’ll be put under will be overwhelming for the newly promoted outfit, and City will cement their status at the top of the Premier League.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Middlesbrough
