On Sky
Standby for a game that very often delivers a classic. Can City extend their phenomenal unbeaten run at Fortress Etihad…?
Vital Quotes:
David Platt:
‘…what seems to be happening to us at this moment in time, half voices, half truths, stories that are probably big enough to go one day are actually lasting a lot longer than that and for what reason, I don’t know…I hope this is a very, very good game and we win! Two very good sides with players who can change a game. Tottenham will be under no illusions. This is a difficult game for them. It’s also difficult for us.’
Joe Hart:
‘They are a good team, they have had a few different results recently, but when they play well they are a good team, just the same as us. They’ve got good striking options too with Manu Adebayor returning, but so have we, so I think it will be a good game. But I believe we can beat anyone when we are at our best.’
Pablo Zabaleta:
‘Tottenham have a great team, with fantastic players. Even following the departure of Modric they still have so much quality up front…when they play away they are more dangerous because they have players who are very quick and play well on the counter-attack. We have to be worried about it and defensively we have to work pretty hard.’
Andre Villas-Boas:
‘We are still a team that creates a lot of attacking opportunities with one striker. We go four steps up in competition on Sunday, it’s a different scenario. City have two days extra than us, this is the main difference. The reality is they have that extra freshness. But there is enough time for us to recover from Maribor. The body takes 48 hours to recover from physical effort and we’ll be able to make that recovery.’
Manchester City Team News:
OUT:
Jack Rodwell
James Milner
Micah Richards
LATE FITNESS TEST:
David Silva
Player to watch: Sergio Aguero
If Kun selects the right studs for this one and Mancio runs with his Argentine Aguero-Tévez ground attack then Spurs defence is in for a real test. Aguero is running into terrific form and relishes the big games.
Tottenham Hotspur Team News:
OUT:
Mousa Dembele
Scott Parker
Younes Kaboul
Benoit Assou-Ekotto
LATE FITNESS TEST:
Sandro
Player to watch: Gareth Bale
My goodness me Bale is some player and one of a handful in The Premier League that any City fan would love to see in Sky Blue. The Welsh wizard is Sunday’s clear and present danger and is likely to be coming against never say die City hard man Pablo Zabaleta. That should be some contest.
Match Facts & Stats
THE FACTS:
The Blues are after pursuing a 4th consecutive win over Spurs. Having lost on their last 2 visits to MCFC, Spurs had won 7 of their previous 9.
Kun Aguero is on fire, hitting 3 of the last 9 City league goals and making 2 assists.
El Apache will make his 100th Manchester City appearance in this one. Super Mario will make his 50th City showing. For Spurs, William Gallas will be making his 300th Premier League start.
Should Spurs, having beaten The Stretfords at the swamp this season beat City, that would be their first Manchester double for 52 years.
The Citizens have made the most shots on target in the Premier League so far this season: 65.
Head To Head
League: 48 City Wins, 31 Draws, 47 Spurs Wins
League Cup: 0 City Wins, 0 Draws, 3 Spurs Wins
FA Cup: 5 City Win, 3 Draws, 6 Spurs Wins
Total: 53 City Wins, 34 Draws, 56 Spurs Wins
This Could Be The Last Time:
Su 22Jan 2012 Man City 3 – 2 Tottenham PL
Su 28Aug 2011 Tottenham 1 – 5 Man City PL
Tu 10May 2011 Man City 1 – 0 Tottenham PL
Sa 14Aug 2010 Tottenham 0 – 0 Man City PL
Betting: City 4/7 Draw 3 Spurs 5 Racing Post Soccerbase
TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1 & BBC Match Of The Day
LiveOnSat.com
CLASSIC CITY: Man City v Tottenham, December 9th 1967
Ref Watch:
Michael Oliver of Northumberland
2011-2012 Record Across All Competitions: 36 Games, 94 Yellows, 4 Reds –Last Season:
Mo 09Apr 2012 Tottenham 1 – 2 Norwich
We 07Mar 2012 Tottenham 3 – 1 Stevenage
Su 12Feb 2012 Aston Villa 0 – 1 Man City
Mo 06Feb 2012 Liverpool 0 – 0 Tottenham
Tu 27Dec 2011 Norwich 0 – 2 Tottenham – 2012-2013 Record So Far Across All Competitions: 9 Games, 21 Yellows, 1 Red
Match Prediction:
Johnny On The Spot:
There’s often an air of too close to call about City versus Spurs these days and despite many pundits suggesting a nailed on City win, this correspondent isn’t buying it. Spurs on their day, very often on their travels, can be a class act. Fail to show and expect to be punished. But City’s management and squad are coming into this one absolutely seething from the injustice of the past week’s Champions League winning denial against Ajax and as AVB points out, will have a couple of days extra fuel in the tank on their London opponents. I think these two pointers could be the decisive factors that will swing the game in City’s favour.
City 2 Spurs 1
Next Fixtures:
all times East Manchester
Sa 17 Nov 15h00 Aston Villa, The Etihad, PL
We 21 Nov 19h45 Real Madrid, The Etihad, CL
Su 25 Nov 16h00 Chelsea, Stamford Bridge, PL
We 28 Nov 20h00 Wigan, DW Stadium, PL
Sa 01Dec 15h00 Everton, The Etihad, PL
Tu 04Dec 19h45 B Dortmund, Signal Iduna Park, CL
Su 09Dec 13h30 The rags, The Etihad, PL
Sa 15Dec 12h45 Newcastle, St James’ Park, PL
Sa 22Dec 15h00 Reading, The Etihad, PL
We 26Dec 15h00 Sunderland, Stadium of Light, PL
Sa 29Dec 15h00 Norwich, Carrow Road, PL