Wissa, Yoane
Ake, Nathan
European spot chasers at the Gtech Community Stadium this weekend, in the final matchday of the 2022/23 Premier League.
Since earning promotion to the Premier League in 2021, Manchester City and Brentford have faced off three times with the Cityzens holding the edge over their Sunday rivals with two victories. The reverse fixture earlier this season though, ended in a 2-1 result in favour of Brentford. Ivan Toney’s winner in the dying embers of the game sealed the deal for Thomas Frank’s side.
Manchester City have been a different force in 2023 and are easily the most dominant side in Europe at the moment. Pep Guardiola’s side have not lost since February when they dropped three points against Tottenham Hotspur (1-0). It is their unbeaten run that helped them overturn the gap between them and the then-League leaders Arsenal and seal their third consecutive PL title. With one trophy secured, the Sky Blues are also in the FA Cup final and the UEFA Champions League final. Therefore, City are well and truly chasing their first-ever treble, and the second since Manchester United's 1998/99 season.
Coming to the English domestic cup, City romped their way to the final winning 6-0 against Burnley and trouncing Brentford convincingly by a 3-0 margin in the semis. In Europe, after drawing the first leg (A) against Real Madrid in the semis, City returned home to deliver one of the most devastating and humiliating blows to Real Madrid in recent history, beating Carlo Ancelotti’s side 4-0.
There is very little to speak about City simply because of how good they have been in recent times. They have picked up three wins from their last five with their most recent fixture against Brighton ending in a 1-1 draw away from home. Phil Foden’s opener was canceled out by a brilliant Julio Enciso strike with just seven minutes remaining in the first half. That being said, it was an inconsequential game for City and so Pep Guardiola will not be too upset about his side failing to get the win. With two crucial finals coming up, it is highly likely that Guardiola will not want to risk any of his preferred starting XI members and so we could expect a series of changes. Phil Foden picked up a knock against Brentford and it is highly probable that Guardiola could choose to rest him. The same could be the case for Nathan Ake who is yet to completely recover from his thigh injury. The likes of Julian Alvarez, Cole Palmer, Kalvin Phillips, and Sergio Gomez are all in contention to start on Sunday.
Julian Alvarez will be the player to watch out for the hosts. The Argentine has been nothing short of a sensational signing for City. In the limited chances he has gotten, Alvarez has surely made the most of them and it is fair to say that he would start in almost any other team in Europe. In the 48 appearances he has made for the Manchester outfit this term, he has registered 17 goals and five assists with nine of those goals coming in the Premier League. Alvarez has been overshadowed by Erling Haaland, who is on 37 for the season in the EPL but he is right among the top in terms of talent and potential. With an excellent footballing mind and an even better link-up play at his disposal, Alvarez is among the most influential players on the pitch.
With Ivan Toney, who has scored 21 goals for Brentford this term, banned until next year, the onus to find the goals will fall on right-winger Bryan Mbeumo, who has scored nine goals and assisted on seven occasions in his 37 appearances in the Premier League. It is clear that Mbeumo is one of the options Brentford can count on for the future with the 23-year-old enjoying a fine first season in England. While he could potentially enter the radar of top English and European clubs this summer, he is still one of the threats that City will be wary of, on Sunday.
Expert Opinion: With one side in a must-win situation going up against an absolute powerhouse of an opponent, Sunday’s game at the Gtech Community Stadium promises to be an absolutely mouth-watering one. It is likely to be an end-to-end game with both teams keen on playing their expansive and attacking brand of football. Having said that, it will be a treat for the neutrals who love attacking, physical football and not to forget, goals.
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UEFA Champions League