Swansea and Manchester City have never before met in the League Cup but they have had some entertaining showdowns in the Premier League.
Swansea manager Francesco Guidolin before the game
Swansea welcome Man City to the Liberty Stadium in the EFL Cup tonight, with the sides having never previously met in this competition. With Guardiola having won all eight of his games in charge at City, the Welsh outfit might feel slightly daunted in taking on his in-form charges.
However if past results are anything to go by, Swansea shouldn’t be recoiling with too much horror. They have always put up a fight against Man City despite the disparity in financial muscle between the two clubs, demonstrated by the pinching of Wilfried Bony in January 2015.
Take a look at the last five meetings between Swansea and Man City, and what close affairs they often were.
15 May 2016 – Swansea 1-1 Man City
Man City all but booked a place in this season’s Champions League via a stuttering display at Swansea City. The club had been in freefall since it had been announced in February that Pep Guardiola would succeed Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the season, winning just five of their remaining 14 league games.
Having seen a title bid crumble, they were in danger of dropping into the Europa League and needed a positive result in Wales on the final day of the season to avoid that possibility. Kelechi Iheanacho notched from close-range before Andre Ayew’s deflected free-kick earned Swansea a share of the spoils. City’s vastly superior goal difference meant that if they Man United would have to beat Bournemouth by 19 goals to overhaul them in fourth place.
Andre Ayew scores the first goal for Swansea
12 December 2015 – Man City 2-1 Swansea
Man City soared to the top of the Premier League due to another dramatic late winner from substitute Kelechi Iheanacho. The Nigerian had been on the pitch just six minutes when he fortuitously turned home Yaya Toure’s strike via his back. Bafetimbi Gomis looked to have earned the Swans a deserved point seconds earlier when his stoppage-time strike ended an 11-game personal goal drought.
Wilfried Bony had put the hosts in front against his managerless former club on 26 minutes, but the Swans fought back and were unlucky not to take something from this fixture.
Wilfried Bony celebrates after scoring for Manchester City
17 May 2015 – Swansea 2-4 Man City
Man City scored four goals in Wales as they secured a place in the Champions League group stages. Yaya Toure had given the visitors the lead, before James Milner slid home a second. Gylfi Sigurdsson pulled one back before half-time before Bafetimbi Gomis got the Welsh side on level terms.
However, with 15 minutes of the game remaining, Toure forced a winner, before substitute Wilfried Bony notched against his old club.
The result ensured a place in the top three for Man City, and ended any European dreams for Swansea.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini and Yaya Toure at the end of the game
22 November 2014 – Man City 2-1 Swansea
Yaya Toure bagged the winner as Man City managed to keep the gap between themselves and Premier League leaders Chelsea at eight points. Wilfried Bony had given the visitors the lead inside the opening ten minutes with a sublime finish from Nathan Dyer’s pass. Stevan Jovetic levelled matters minutes later when he clipped home Jesus Navas’ cross but the home crowd were forced to wait until midway through the second half for Toure’s winner.
It was a result which moved City to within a point of second-placed Southampton.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini and Yaya Toure during a lap of honour after the game
1 January 2014 – Swansea 2-3 Man City
Wilfried Bony showcased his talents but it wasn’t enough to deny City victory at the Liberty Stadium. Fernandinho had smashed the visitors into a first-half lead, before Bony headed home a deserved leveller. Goals from Yaya Toure and Aleksandr Kolarov gave City firm control of the game before Bony’s long-range effort ensured a tense finale.
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