Match Preview: Newcastle United vs Manchester City

City divert attention to domestic cup action after Chelsea defeat

By Rebecca Halliwell

The fourth round of the Capital One Cup sees Manchester City travelling to St James’ Park. 

Manchester City will want to win to make amends for their defeat to Chelsea at the weekend. Their away form seemed to be improving but a late goal from Fernando Torres saw City limited to four points out of a possible 15. 

While the Capital One Cup won’t be on the top of Manuel Pellegrini’s must-win list, the Chilean will be expected to put out a good squad and prove the Blues depth. 

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

In the Spotlight: Newcastle United

No. 11: A Derby defeat, Loïc Rémy and Sammy Ameobi

By Aaron Leggott

Following Sunday's catastrophic 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea, the Blues turn their attention to domestic cup football as they travel to the North East to play Newcastle. The previous meeting between the sides saw City come out 4-0 winners. I spoke with Newcastle fan Adam Johnson (@ajnufc) to get an update on our opponents. 

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Chelsea 1 - 2 Manchester City: Thoughts and Ratings

By Adam Bailey

My thoughts

All eyes will be on the Hart - Nastasić bust up, but on days like this, it's far more rewarding to take the positives out of the game. My opinion has been scrutinised  by the majority of my Twitter followers, but I do feel Nastasić played a bigger role in Chelsea's winner. Hart, wrongly of course, darted out of his goal too early. However, the Serbian saw him coming and still proceeded to head over the top of him into Torres' path. Any other direction and the goal is averted, but too much discussion has been centered around the issue and I want to leave it there.

As for Fernando Torres, he was magnificent. He'll never return to the form he hit in his days at Liverpool and every experienced pundit knows that he won't, but it makes a decent headline at the end of the day. He terrorised Gaël Clichy all evening and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't slightly concerned with the Frenchman's form of late. He seems to have lost his pace and concentration and dare I say it, Aleksandar Kolarov seems to be a better option at the moment.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

Match Reflection: Chelsea 2 - 1 Manchester City

Defensive catastrophe ruins hard working away performance

By Jack Mumford

An injury time mix up between Joe Hart and Matija Nastasić sent City to their third defeat  in four away games against title rivals Chelsea on Sunday afternoon. Chelsea had taken the lead but City replied strongly and as the match entered injury time it appeared both teams may have to settle for a point. This all changed a minute after the board went up as a simple ball over the defence created havoc and left Fernando Torres with a tap in to win the match 2-1.

This disappointment came after a busy 8 days in which City won away at West Ham and spent the majority of the week thousands of miles away in Moscow recording a 2-1 victory over CSKA in the process.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

Match Preview: Chelsea vs Manchester City

City looking to grab yet another away win

By Rebecca Halliwell

Sunday afternoon sees two of the best teams in the Premier League set to pit their wits - with Manchester City heading south to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. This is looking to be an exciting match with Chelsea on a good run of form while City will be looking for three points to keep them near the top of the table.

The Blues played well in midweek with Manuel Pellegrini again deciding to opt with Sergio Agüero and Álvaro Negredo as his striking duo. Sergio scored his second brace in as many matches and with the two players on good form, will Pellegrini select them to play against Chelsea?

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

In the Spotlight: Chelsea

No. 10: The return of Mourinho, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard

By Aaron Leggott

Two wins in the last two away games has put the Blues in a brilliant position going into November. Edging towards a third of the season, we are set to face arguably our biggest title rivals on Sunday as we make the trip to the capital to play Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. I caught up with Chelsea fan Jamie Collett (@jamieberry11) to get a lowdown on Sunday's opponents.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

CSKA Moscow 1 - 2 Manchester City: Thoughts and Ratings

By Adam Bailey

My thoughts

In truth, I anticipated a rugged encounter in Moscow, but to my absolute delight, it turned out to be a relatively straightforward victory for the blues. The pitch was in terrible nick and the paint job only amplified the shoddiness of CSKA’s match preparation. As for the racist chants, well, it just shows you which countries are still insistent on living in the dark ages.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

Freezing conditions and an intimidating foreign crowd usually carry bad omens for City, but we dominated from the off. David Silva’s return to the team has ensured a return our normal style of play and unsurprisingly, the Spaniard bossed the midfield once again on Wednesday night. Fernandinho capitalised on his impressive display against West Ham last weekend and his effortless composure on the ball made City look like magicians on a beachy playing surface.

Match Reflection: CSKA Moscow 1 - 2 Manchester City

Crucial victory in Moscow as Agüero stars yet again for gutsy City

By Jack Mumford

City battled to a 2-1 victory over a struggling CSKA Moscow side thanks to another two goals from Sergio Agüero on Wednesday evening. CSKA weren’t City’s only obstacle to the three points as the Arena Khimki pitch certainly didn’t lend itself to the passing brand of football City currently play. 

However Agüero, who is going through a purple patch of eight goals in his last six games, replied to CSKA’s opener quickly to guide City to a victory that is the perfect response to their recent crushing defeat against Bayern Munich.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

Manuel Pellegrini chose to keep the same 4-4-2 formation that worked so well at West Ham on Saturday but rotated his fullbacks as Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov came in for Micah Richards and Pablo Zabaleta respectively. The only other change to the line-up was Samir Nasri dropping to the bench as Jesús Navas filled his right sided midfielder role.

Match Preview: CSKA Moscow vs Manchester City

City looking to bounce back after Bayern defeat

By Rebecca Halliwell

Manchester City have made the long trip to the Russian capital as they prepare to face CSKA Moscow in their third match of the 13/14 Champions League campaign.

At the weekend, the Blues secured a win against West Ham United, meaning their first league away win of this season. Manchester City played well with Sergio Agüero scoring two goals and David Silva netting the third. The Blues are now sitting fourth in the league and second in their Champions League group.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

West Ham United 1 - 3 Manchester City: Thoughts and Ratings

By Adam Bailey 

My thoughts

Let’s be honest; our hearts were in our mouths just moments prior to kick off. West Ham’s spectacular 3-0 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur a fortnight ago married with our repugnant away form so far this season promised only more despair for Manuel Pellegrini’s title chasers.

Those were the typical thoughts of a pessimistic City fan who knew that his beloved blues could beat, and also lose to any team in the Premier League. However, class (not money) shone through and we stylishly placed the Hammers back in the toolbox.

For me, there were three stand out performers, two of which have undergone some unfair criticism this season. Firstly, Sergio Agüero looks to be back to his brilliant best and seems to have put his parasitical injury trouble behind him. Six league goals already this campaign pays testament to his natural finishing ability and his second of the game shows he has no trouble heading the ball either!

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

Match Reflection: West Ham United 1 - 3 Manchester City

Agüero nails Hammers with ease

By Jack Mumford

A Sergio Agüero inspired victory ended City’s dismal away form in an impressive 3-1 triumph at the Boleyn Ground yesterday evening. Pellegrini’s men had already lost away at Cardiff City and Aston Villa with their only previous away point this season coming at Stoke City in stark contrast to their 100% home record. This record never looked likely to continue though as City enjoyed near total domination over Sam Allardyce’s industrious, if not particularly exciting, West Ham side.

Agüero and Silva celebrate in front of the travelling faithful
Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

In the first game after the international break that was successful for so many of City’s players and with an apparent lack of defenders to pick from, the Chilean manager chose Javi Garcia over Joleon Lescott to accompany Matija Nastasić at the back in perhaps the biggest surprise in the team. Pablo Zabaleta was also rested as him and the now fit Micah Richards rotate in the right back role.

Match Preview: West Ham United vs Manchester City

City looking to improve away record in Capital

By Rebecca Halliwell

Tomorrow Manchester City are set to face West Ham United. In last year’s corresponding fixture, the Hammers held the Blues to a goalless draw with West Ham incorrectly having a goal ruled out for offside. Last season, Manchester City struggled to find any away form and even though they were unbeaten at that stage in late November, they had lost ground in the title race. This season is proving to be similar with the Blues having lost to Cardiff and Aston Villa despite being in front, as well as a draw with Stoke.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

In the Spotlight: West Ham United

No. 9: Ravel Morrison, Manuel Pellegrini and West Ham's inconsistent form

By Aaron Leggott

The international break has finally come to an end as Premier League football returns this weekend. Ahead of City's game at West Ham, we caught up with Hammers fan Jack Bowers (@JackBowers92) to get a lowdown on tomorrow evening's opponents. 

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Match Reflection: Manchester City 3 - 1 Everton

City continue their 100% home league record against Everton

By Jack Mumford

Goals from Álvaro Negredo, Sergio Agüero and a Tim Howard own goal made it four victories from four home Premier League games for City this season as they overcame an in-form Everton side 3-1 this lunchtime. 

This result improved a bad week in which City have lost both to Aston Villa and Bayern Munich. The impressive win came despite playing the last hour without inspirational captain Vincent Kompany who walked off with a suspected groin strain. Kompany was joined on the treatment table by Aleksandar Kolarov who disappeared down the tunnel midway through the second half.

Boss Manuel Pellegrini elected to stick with the same 4-4-2 formation that was so convincingly beaten by European champions Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.  However, there were several changes in personnel as Pablo Zabaleta came back into the side, Joleon Lescott came in for Matija Nastasić to slot in alongside Kompany - albeit only for half an hour - and Kolarov started ahead of Gaël Clichy at left back.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

Match Preview: Manchester City vs Everton

Does Pellegrini have the Hart to keep number one between the sticks?

By Aaron Leggott

Everton will be travelling to the Etihad Stadium for the early lunchtime kick off with realistic hopes of putting a further dent in Manchester City's title hopes. 

After Wednesday's defeat at home to Bayern Munich, City have endured a mixed start in all competitions - whilst Everton come into the game in a rich vein of form after winning all their games in September under the guidance of Roberto Martínez.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

It seems like the Spaniard's deadline day signings have made an immediate impact. Romelu Lukaku, James McCarthy and Gareth Barry all made the decision to move to Goodison Park - with the latter missing out tomorrow as he can't play against his parent club.

In the Spotlight: Everton

No. 8: Keeping Leighton Baines, new signings and a bold prediction!

By Aaron Leggott

Following two consecutive defeats against Aston Villa and Bayern Munich, the Blues are set to face Everton in the day's early kick off. We caught up with Toffees fan Nick Bailey (@nbabsolutely) to get a perspective from our upcoming opponent.

Photo: Official Everton Facebook

Manchester City 1 - 3 Bayern Munich: Thoughts and Ratings

By Aaron Leggott

My thoughts

I'll start this off by saying that I wasn't too surprised with the result on Wednesday. A lot of City fans went into the game thinking we could at least match the quality of Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich - but the match proved their superiority - not only over City, but the rest of Europe as well.

The front six of Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Arjen Robben, Toni Kroos, Franck Ribéry and Thomas Müller was used to devastating effect, with Micah Richards describing the game as playing against an extra man. 

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

Match Reflection: Manchester City 1 - 3 Bayern Munich

Brilliant Bayern down City with ease

By Rebecca Halliwell

Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City were given a cruel lesson in European football after current Champions League holders Bayern Munich annihilated the Blues in their own back yard.

Goals from Franck Ribéry, Thomas Müller and Arjen Robben gave Munich an initial 3-0 advantage before Álvaro Negredo came off the bench to grab City a consolation goal on 79 minutes.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

In truth, City had a good first five minutes. They kept possession despite the pressure and Micah Richards tested Manuel Neuer with a decent header from a corner. But one defensive lapse led to Bayern’s first goal on seven minutes. Joe Hart’s attempted save was poor and Ribéry's strike from outside the box deflected in off his arm.

Match Preview: Manchester City vs Bayern Munich

City set to take on European Champions

By Aaron Leggott

After a convincing win in the Czech Republic a fortnight ago, Manchester City are getting ready to face a totally different challenge this evening in the Champions League.

That challenge comes in the form of current holders Bayern Munich, who travel to the Etihad for the second time in three years. That game saw City come out as comfortable 2-0 winners, but it was essentially a dead rubber with Bayern resting a number of key players.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

In the Spotlight: FC Bayern Munich

No. 7: Previous meetings, Pep Guardiola and Franck Ribéry

By Aaron Leggott

Our first Champions League game at the Etihad Stadium this season sees the Blues pit their wits against the current holders, Bayern Munich. We caught up with Enis Köylü (@eniskoylu) - a German and Turkish football expert who works as a sub editor and site manager for Goal. 

Photo: Official Bayern München Facebook