Swansea City v Manchester City – Sunday 11th March – Liberty Stadium (16:00)
Swansea City v Manchester City
The English Premier League title race looks set to go down to the wire this season with the clubs from Manchester maintaining great league form. League leaders Manchester City are being pushed all the way by their cross-town rivals as only 2 points separate the pair. This weekend Roberto Mancini’s men travel to the Liberty Stadium in Wales in search of another 3 points but face a potential banana skin in premiership newcomers Swansea City. The Welsh outfit have proved a tough nut to crack at home all season.
The Swans have won the hearts of the neutral with their attractive style of play and impressive performances against the Premier League ‘big guns’ at home. They earned an important 2-0 victory at Wigan last weekend that moved them 11 points clear of the relegation zone. This, despite being reduced to 10 men after Nathan Dyer received a red card for a clumsy challenge. However, Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson scored an impressive brace that capped a determined display that earned them all 3 points. Sigurdsson, who is on loan from German side Hoffenheim, has added a creative edge to the Swans midfield and his shooting and free-kick ability has made his arrival at Swansea even more priceless. Their away form has left a lot to be desired but it is at home where they have managed to stamp their authority over some big teams. City will be weary of the fact that only Manchester United (0-1) and Norwich (2-3) have managed wins at the Liberty Stadium this season. The Swans’ ability to keep the ball has allowed them to concede a mere 10 goals at home, which is the second best defensive home record behind City.
League leaders Manchester City made easy work of an ordinary Bolton side and kept their title challenge well on track with a 2-0 win of their own at home with goals from Gael Clichy and Mario Balotelli. However, their on-field efforts were again overshadowed by off-field exploits. The ever troublesome Mario Balotelli was snapped in Liverpool going to a strip club in the early hours of Friday morning. Balotelli will be fined two weeks wages for breaking the clubs curfew. Mancini has vowed to punish him, blaming the late night for the striker being so wasteful in front of goal. Manchester City have been superb this season with their goal scoring exploits matched defensively, having conceded just 19 goals in 27 matches. The dangerous Sergio Aguero will come back into the starting line-up after being rested last weekend.
If there’s a team to be tipped to dampen Swansea’s good home record it has to be Manchester City. They have had no problem scoring away from home and come into this match in good form. They beat Swansea 4-0 in the reverse fixture and should nip the win this time.
