Match to be played on Saturday 15th March 2014 at 12:45. Venue: The KC Stadium, Hull.
Manchester City fought hard in Barcelona but couldn’t get the better of the Spanish champions in the Champions League, losing the tie 4-1 over the two legs.
Focus now switches fully to the Premier League as Manuel Pellegrini’s men could still add the Premier League title to their League Cup victory against Sunderland.
City have three games in hand on Chelsea at the top and they continue their quest for a second league title in three years this weekend with a trip to Hull City. Here’s the side Pellegrini may select.
GK – Joe Hart
Hart will be disappointed with the Champions League performance and this is a chance for him to help put things right. Expect consistency and quality from the number one.
RB – Pablo Zabaleta
The Argentine is one of the best right-backs in the Premier League. He offers experience and sensible decision making when he goes forward.
CB – Vincent Kompany
No one will be more determined to get a positive result this weekend than Manchester City’s captain. Kompany will want to grab the side by the scruff of the neck to ensure three points.
CB – Martin Demichelis
He’ll be fresh having missed the game against Barcelona through suspension. There’s been plenty of negative press for Demichelis this season and this is another chance for him to prove his critics wrong.
LB – Gael Clichy
The Frenchman could return to the side and inject a lot of pace down the left hand side. He’s an important source of width when he gets forward.
RM – Sami Nasri
Nasri can play on either side of the midfield so it doesn’t matter too much where he starts. He’s a good player to have coming in on his strong left foot, which allows him to rain shots in on the opponent’s goal.
CM – Yaya Toure
Another experienced and important player who will be determined to put in a good performance. He’s not been at his best in the last couple of games and needs a good 90 minutes.
CM – Fernandinho
City need him to really work hard whether he’s dropping off or pressing forward with the attack.
LM – David Silva
Silva offers real control and protection of possession. He’ll tuck inside when Clichy gets forward to try and flood Hull in the midfield areas.
ST – Sergio Aguero
Not at his best against Barcelona but he’s not had a great deal of football after injury. He’ll work all across the Hull back four, switching defenders and trying to pull players out of position.
ST – Alvaro Negredo
Negredo’s job is to stick onto both of the centre backs, pushing them back towards their own goal. He’s also got enough pace to be able to exploit Hull in behind if their back four gets too high.
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