Prediction: Manchester City vs Cardiff

Prediction: Manchester City winning at half time & full time

Best Odds: 1/4

Bookmaker: bet365

The Premier League returns this week for a series of rare midweek fixtures, as we continue on down the final stretch of the season. Teams up and down the league are going to be scratching and clawing for what they want to achieve between now and the final day, which is going to make for some thoroughly entertaining viewing. The game that we’re going to be looking at today is Manchester City vs Cardiff City, in what can only be described as a David vs Goliath type of tussle in Manchester.

Manchester City

There’s still a very good chance that Manchester City will win the quadruple this season, which is a pretty unbelievable feat when you really think about it. Pep Guardiola has assembled one hell of a team at the Etihad, and there aren’t really all too many teams stood in their way that they should be afraid of. When it comes to the Premier League their destiny is in their own hands, although you have to wonder how Pep is going to set his side up given that they’re still competing on three different fronts.

Team News

Aguero isn’t expected to be risked after coming off against Fulham, with Delph, Mendy, Kompany and Bravo being City’s other injury concerns.

Cardiff

Neil Warnock deserves a lot of credit for giving Cardiff City a fighting chance this season, but at the end of the day, it probably isn’t going to mean much. Burnley’s win at the weekend has made their push for survival that much harder, and their schedule isn’t exactly a favourable one. They’d more than likely require a minor miracle in order to remain in the top flight of English football this season, although they should be applauded for some of their gutsy wins since the season kicked off in August.

Team News

Warnock has threatened to field a team full of youth players in this one after the incident against Chelsea, with Bamba, Paterson, Connolly and Richards all confirmed to be missing the clash with City.

Factors to Consider

• The game will be played at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
• Man City have won all six of their last six games.
• Cardiff have won two and lost four of their last six games.
• Man City have scored 17 goals and conceded three in their last six games.
• Cardiff have scored six goals and conceded 13 in their last six games.

Conclusion

There’s only one way this is going to go in our mind, and that’s a Manchester City win – but we don’t think it’s going to be a blowout by any stretch of the imagination. They’ll probably score early in order to give them the kind of setup they need for a pretty easy 90 minutes, but the Bluebirds aren’t going to be interested in sitting back and allowing that to happen. They’ll come forward because they know that they’re fighting for their lives, but in the end, the reigning champions will come away with a narrow three points.

Prediction: Manchester City winning at half time & full time

Best Odds: 1/4

Bookmaker: bet365