Manchester City vs Stoke City preview

By Ric Turner, Fri 22 April 2016 14:33


Manchester City vs Stoke City previewNasri the only absentee as injury problems ease

Manchester City vs Stoke City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 12.45pm, Saturday 23rd April 2016

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Andre Marriner Assistants: S Ledger, D Cann Fourth Official: R Madley

Odds: City 1/3, Draw 5/1, Stoke 11/1

Tickets: On sale via www.mcfc.co.uk

TV: BT Sport

Manchester City

Manager: Manuel Pellegrini

Squad (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Otamendi, Sagna, Zabaleta, De Bruyne, Delph, Fernandinho, Fernando, Navas, Silva, Sterling, Toure, Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho

Injured: Nasri

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: DWWWLD

Stoke City

Manager: Mark Hughes

Squad (from): Given, Haugaard, Bardsley, Cameron, Muniesa, Shawcross, Teixeira, Wollscheid, Adam, Afellay, Imbula, Ireland, Shenton, Whelan, Arnautovic, Bojan, Crouch, Diouf, Joselu.

Injured: Shaqiri, Butland, Walters, Johnson, Wilson

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: LLDWLD

Samie Nasri is the only absentee, as Manuel Pellegrini has virtually a full squad to select from for the visit of Stoke City. Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and David Silva have all recovered from the injuries that ruled them out of the midweek draw at Newcastle. With the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid on Tuesday night, Pellegrini may be tempted to rotate his squad but has stressed the importance of finishing in the top four this season.

Pellegrini said: "Only Samir Nasri is out, he isn’t 100 per cent yet. I hope he’ll be back for the next game (against Southampton). The rest of the squad is fit.

"It’s very important we’re in the Champions League semi-final, but that doesn’t mean we’re not worried about the Premier League.

"All the big teams must try to reach the final of the Champions League and be involved in domestic games and titles. It is very important to get a spot in next season’s Champions League."

City's last home game against Stoke ended in a 1-0 defeat, with Mame Biram Diouf netting the winner for the visitors. Overall City have won 47 of the 108 games played against Stoke, with 24 draws and 37 defeats.

Prediction: City 2 Stoke 0