Played
March 25, 2012 4:30 AM EST
Britannia Stadium — Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Referee:‬ H. Webb‎
Attendance:‬ 27535‎
 

Stoke City - Manchester City Preview: Mancini's side have scored one less goal on their travels than Potters have at home and away

Tony Pulis' men host the title contenders after almost picking up a shock win against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in midweek. Watch it live on ESPN this Saturday

By Miles Chambers

More On :  Manchester City, Stoke City, Stoke City vs Manchester City

PROBABLE LINEUPS
STOKE CITY

Begovic
Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson
Shotton, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington
Crouch, Walters

MANCHESTER CITY

Hart
Richards, Kompany, K Toure, Clichy
 Y Toure, Barry
Silva, Aguero, Nasri
Balotelli


Stoke boss Tony Pulis will be without Salif Diao after the midfielder picked up an injury in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Wednesday. Glenn Whelan, who came on for the former Senegal international at White Hart Lane, should replace him. Ricardo Fuller is the only other enforced absentee as he serves the final game of his three-match ban for violent conduct following his red card in the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea earlier in the month.

Roberto Mancini almost has a full squad heading to the Britannia Stadium, with club captain Vincent Kompany likely to play having recovered from a calf injury obtained earlier in March. He will probably partner Kolo Toure in the centre of defence, with Stefan Savic dropping to the bench. Joleon Lescott (groin) is unlikely to feature on Saturday and is now Roberto Mancini's only injury worry.



 DID YOU KNOW?
  • Manchester City have scored just one less goal away from home in the top flight this season (27) than Stoke City have scored both at the Britannia Stadium and on their travels (28).
  • Carlos Tevez (pictured right) played for City for the first time since September in the 2-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday, and assisted Samir Nasri’s winning goal. He could feature again on Saturday.
  • Pulis' men have failed to score only once in their last seven domestic matches, in the 1-0 defeat away to Chelsea.
  • Mancini's side can go top of the Premier League table by two points with a win over Stoke this weekend, with Manchester United in action on Monday at home to Fulham.
  • Although both sides are fighting markedly different battles this season, the league is both teams’ only remaining competition, having been eliminated from all other cups.
  • Both teams have shared familiar foes in the domestic trophies this season. Manchester City were knocked out of the League Cup by Liverpool at the semi-final stage, while the Potters were defeated in the FA Cup and the League Cup by Kenny Dalglish’s side.
  • Sergio Aguero scored either side of Adam Johnson’s 25-yard strike in a 3-0 win over the Potters back in December.
  • A reverse of that scoreline is unlikely but not inconceivable. Mancini's side have only won two of their last seven away top-flight matches, with losses to Swansea City and Sunderland among those dropped points.
  • Aguero, David Silva and Samir Nasri have as many assists between them (27) as the entire Stoke team in the league this campaign.

Follow Goal.com on Twitter

Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Stoke City 1-0 Manchester City
    16.43 %
  • Stoke City 1-3 Manchester City
    14.6 %
  • Stoke City 0-2 Manchester City
    10.81 %
Head to Head
England - FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ 26/01/2013 Stoke City 0 - Manchester City 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 02/01/2013 Manchester City 3 - Stoke City 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 16/09/2012 Stoke City 1 - Manchester City 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 25/03/2012 Stoke City 1 - Manchester City 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 22/12/2011 Manchester City 3 - Stoke City 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Stoke City
20/05/2013Southampton 1 - Stoke City 1EPL
12/05/2013Stoke City 1 - Tottenham 2EPL
07/05/2013Sunderland 1 - Stoke City 1EPL
28/04/2013Stoke City 1 - Norwich City 0EPL
21/04/2013QPR 0 - Stoke City 2EPL
Manchester City
24/05/2013Chelsea FC 3 - Manchester City 4FR
20/05/2013Manchester City 2 - Norwich City 3EPL
15/05/2013Reading 0 - Manchester City 2EPL
12/05/2013Manchester City 0 - Wigan Athletic 1FA
08/05/2013Manchester City 1 - West Bromwich Albion 0EPL
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
1Asmir BegovicGoalkeeper
4Robert HuthDefender
12Marc WilsonDefender
17Ryan ShawcrossDefender
28Andy WilkinsonDefender
6Glenn WhelanMidfielder
18Dean WhiteheadMidfielder
26Matthew EtheringtonMidfielder
19Jonathan WaltersStriker
25Peter CrouchStriker
33Cameron JeromeStriker
29Thomas SørensenGoalkeeper
35Matthew UpsonDefender
30Ryan ShottonDefender
7Jermaine PennantMidfielder
24Rory DelapMidfielder
8W. PalaciosMidfielder
9Kenwyne JonesStriker
1Joe HartGoalkeeper
2Micah RichardsDefender
5Pablo ZabaletaDefender
22Gael ClichyDefender
28Kolo ToureDefender
18Gareth BarryMidfielder
8Samir NasriMidfielder
21David SilvaStriker
42Yaya Touré Midfielder
10Edin DzekoStriker
45Mario BalotelliStriker
30Costel PantilimonGoalkeeper
13Aleksandar KolarovDefender
15Stefan SavicDefender
7James MilnerMidfielder
11Adam JohnsonMidfielder
34Nigel De JongMidfielder
32Carlos TévezStriker
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man. United 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0