Manchester City will host Brentford at the Etihad on Saturday, looking to bounce back strongly after the disappointing draw against Everton.
With the Premier League title on the line, Manchester City cannot afford to drop any points in the game vs Brentford at the Etihad on Saturday. Arsenal are already well ahead in the table, and a defeat or draw here could be devastating for Pep Guardiola’s men.
The hosts have picked up five wins from their last six matches against Brentford, and they will be the favourites to win here. On the other hand, the away team have been difficult to beat in recent weeks. They are unbeaten in five of their last six matches in the Premier League. It remains to be seen whether they can pull off an upset.
The Bees are currently seventh in the Premier League standings, and they will be chasing European qualification. A positive result here would be a huge boost for them. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Ruben Dias (muscular) and Josko Gvardiol (calf) are ruled out for the away side. Rodri is a doubt with a groin problem. Manchester City will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Brentford, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal.
Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly will start as the two full-backs. They will keep things tight at the back and help out in the final third. Meanwhile, Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi will form the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Tijjani Reijnders will reprise the defensive midfield role, looking to control the tempo and provide defensive cover, with Bernardo Silva adding drive and creativity alongside him.
Rayan Cherki will add creativity from the attacking midfield spot. Finally, Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo will add flair and goals from the flanks, with Erling Haaland leading the line for Manchester City vs Brentford this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Silva, Reijnders; Doku, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland
Brentford
Fabio Carvalho is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, while Antoni Milambo and Rico Henry are also ruled out. Brentford will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Manchester City, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal.
Michael Kayode and Keane Lewis-Potter will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things tight defensively and hit Manchester City on the counter. Nathan Collins will start at the heart of the defence alongside Sepp van den Berg.
As for the midfield unit, Jordan Henderson and Yehor Yarmolyuk will look to protect the back four and win the ball back for their side. Mikkel Damsgaard will start as the central attacking midfielder and help create opportunities in the final third.
Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade will feature on the flanks. They will look to open up the opposition defence with their pace, flair, and movement. Finally, Igor Thiago will spearhead the Brentford attack vs Manchester City on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Yarmolyuk, Henderson; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago
Key Stats
- Erling Haaland has scored in his last three appearances in the Premier League.
- Brentford have drawn five of their last seven matches in the Premier League.
- Manchester City have not lost their last 6 matches against Brentford.
- Additionally, Manchester City have not lost their last 6 matches in the Premier League.
- Only Liverpool (19) have scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of Premier League games than Brentford (18) this season. However, Manchester City have conceded fewer goals in this timeframe than any other side (7).
Player to Watch
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian international is the top scorer in the Premier League, and he is our key player to watch out for. Haaland will look to find the back of the net and continue his impressive goal-scoring form. Manchester City will depend on him to grind out all three points here.
This has been a mixed campaign for Manchester City, and the 25-year-old has stepped up time and again to help them get over the line. He will need to produce another defining performance in the final third.
Prediction
Manchester City 3-1 Brentford
Manchester City are a better team on paper, and they are full of motivation right now. The hosts simply cannot afford to drop points here, and they will be desperate to get the job done. Additionally, they have an excellent record against Brentford in recent meetings, having already beaten the Bees twice this season.
City are likely to navigate their way through this game and come away with a win. Brentford will put up a fight, but they are likely to crash to defeat. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Pep Guardiola and his charges.
