Champions make four changes for visit of Spurs | OneFootball

Icon: Manchester City F.C.

Manchester City F.C.

·17 August 2019

Champions make four changes for visit of Spurs

Article image:Champions make four changes for visit of Spurs

Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo, Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi are all recalled, while Rodrigo makes his home debut.

Kevin De Bruyne skippers the side with David Silva on the bench.


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Joao Cancelo is among the subs, while John Stones picked up a knock in training.

Article image:Champions make four changes for visit of Spurs

How we line up:

Ederson, Walker, Zinchenko, Otamendi, Laporte, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne (c), Sterling, Bernardo, Aguero

Subs: Bravo, Jesus, D Silva, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Cancelo, Foden

Tottenham starting XI:

Probable tactics: 4-3-3

City rarely stray from the formation that has brought so much success.

Rodrigo will make his home debut in his holding midfield role, allowing Ilkay Gundogan to partner De Bruyne in central midfield.

Raheem Sterling may start on the left flank, with Bernardo on the right, but don’t be surprised to see them swap flanks at various stages.

The Blues have an extremely strong bench, with Fernandinho making a welcome return and Joao Cancelo will hope to make his City debut at some point this afternoon.

Pep on Spurs:

“We learnt how good they are on many occasions. They’re the second-best team in Europe.

“Since i came here to England they’ve been a real contender every season. The first season they finished second… they’ve always been there or thereabouts.”

Stats and facts:

City are unbeaten in the past 24 opening top flight home games – a run that stretches back to 1989 and resulted in 16 win and eight draws.

The Blues are looking for a 16th successive Premier League win this afternoon – the record is 18, set by City in 2017.

Gabriel Jesus is in terrific form going into this game, having scored 13 goals and provided five assists in his last 10 starts for City (all competitions).

After bagging 10 goals in his first seven league games against Spurs, Sergio Aguero has now gone seven games without a goal against today’s opponents.

If he plays, Oleksandr Zinchenko can set a new record of winning all 24 of his Premier League games played.

Spurs will equal an unwanted record set in 2000 if they lose this game – that of losing seven away league matches in succession.

Spurs didn’t draw a sing away game in the Premier League last season – the first time that has happened since Norwich in 1980/81.

Tottenham went through the entire 2018-19 season without drawing a top-flight away game - the first time that has happened since Norwich City did likewise in 1980-81.

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