Manchester City v Stoke City Betting: Routine win as Citizens continue good form

Manchester City are aiming to maintain their magnificent start to the season when they play host to Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.

Pep Guardiola's team have won each of their last eight matches in all competitions and have enjoyed some big victories thus far this term, winning by four, five and six goal margins respectively in recent weeks; City also exhibited their ability to grind out a win with a superb 1-0 defeat of Premier League champions, Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge before the international break.

Citizens striker Sergio Aguero is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering injury in a car crash last month and, so, Brazil star Gabriel Jesus is likely to lead the line for Guardiola's team against the Potters; the 20-year-old star, however, will not carry the burden of scoring goals alone, for the men from Manchester can call upon the services of a stellar supporting cast.

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Kevin De Bruyne, whose goal beat the Blues last time out, David Silva, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling are in all contention to start against Stoke and, with so much star quality in the final third, it is little wonder that City are as short as 1/6 (1.17) to maintain their winning run against the Potters.

Mark Hughes' men are the only team to have picked up a point against City's rivals, Manchester United, so far this season and the 53-year-old Welshman would dearly love to inflict a first defeat of the season on his former employers.

Both of those results, however, came on home soil and Stoke have been less sure-footed on their travels; indeed, the Potters enjoyed just four away wins in the top tier last term and bet365 go 14/1 (15.0) that Stoke secure their first away win of the current campaign here, while the same firm go 6/1 (7.0) that the match ends all square.

City have won plenty of plaudits for their attacking quality, but it is worth noting that Guardiola's charges have built their success so far this season upon a solid defensive base, having kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven matches in all competitions.

Another clean sheet for the hosts is chalked up at just 5/6 (1.83) with bet365, while the odds compilers offer 20/21 (1.95) that the men from Manchester win without conceding for the eighth time this season, and go just 3/10 (1.30) that there are at least three goals in the game - a selection that would have landed in six of City's last eight matches.

Stoke have been involved in tight tussles on their travels thus far this season, with three of their four away matches producing fewer than three goals and those who fancy Hughes' well-drilled outfit to put the shackles on City may be tempted by bet365's 5/2 (3.50) quote for fewer than three goals to be scored on Saturday.

Better value, however, may well lie in backing the home side to chalk up yet another clean sheet on their way to victory; it is a selection that would have landed in all but one of City's last seven games and bet365's 20/21 (1.95) quote could pay dividends for punters once again this weekend.