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Tag: Man City

  • Chelsea beat Man City in Women’s League Cup final

    Chelsea beat Man City in Women’s League Cup final

    Chelsea edged past Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup final to win their first trophy under Sonia Bompastor and keep their bid for a historic quadruple alive.

    Bompastor has exceeded expectations since succeeding Emma Hayes as head coach last May, winning 26 of her 28 games.

    Mayra Ramirez netted an early opener for Chelsea, bundling in a rebound that bounced off City skipper Laia Aleixandri at Derby County’s Pride Park.

    Aoba Fujino levelled after the break with a stunning strike, but an own goal by Yui Hasegawa restored Chelsea’s lead and ended their three-year losing streak in League Cup finals.

    City, who were playing their first game under interim boss Nick Cushing following Gareth Taylor’s sacking five days ago, dominated play after Chelsea’s opener.

    But they were unable to find a way through during the first half as Chelsea’s solid centre-back paring of Millie Bright and Nathalie Bjorn stood firm, limiting City’s chances to ambitious efforts from the edge of the box.

    Chelsea appeared to regain control after the interval, but Fujino’s powerful strike flew past Hannah Hampton and into the roof of the net before Hasegawa’s own goal handed momentum back to Bompastor’s side.

    They remain in the hunt for the Champions League and FA Cup, while they have all but secured a sixth successive Women’s Super League (WSL) title, sitting eight points clear at the top of the table with six games remaining.

    This final marked the start of an intense 12-day battle, with Chelsea and City playing each other four times in a row.

  • EPL: Hudson-Odoi late strike condemns Man City to another defeat

    EPL: Hudson-Odoi late strike condemns Man City to another defeat

    Callum Hudson-Odoi scored late in the second half to earn Nottingham Forest a crucial Premier League victory over fellow Champions League hopefuls Manchester City at the City Ground.

    With seven minutes of an otherwise uneventful contest remaining, Hudson-Odoi collected a magnificent Morgan Gibbs-White pass in his stride before beating City goalkeeper Ederson at his near post to send the home fans into ecstasy.

    In a game billed as crucial in the race to earn a spot in Europe’s premier club competition next season, City had the better opportunities before the interval but lacked the pace or ingenuity to breach the home side’s dogged defence.

    A powerful Nico Gonzalez effort which flew narrowly wide of Matz Sels’ right-hand post was the high point of a drab first half, and there were few signs of improvement early in the second period despite Forest’s greater urgency.

    After Nico Dominguez volleyed an Anthony Elanga cross straight at Ederson within seconds of the restart, Hudson-Odoi had a low effort tipped on to the post by the Brazilian midway through the second half.

    Read Also: Hudson-Odoi scores twice as Forest  ease relegation fears

    Pep Guardiola introduced Kevin de Bruyne and Omar Marmoush with 20 minutes remaining but there was little in the way of goalmouth action in the latter stages until Hudson-Odoi’s moment of inspiration.

    Guardiola and his players can have few complaints with the outcome as they slipped to a ninth league defeat of a tumultuous season – their joint-most in a single campaign under the Spaniard.

    Third-placed Forest move four points clear of City, who stay fourth but could be overtaken by Chelsea if the Blues beat struggling Leicester City on Sunday.

    (BBC)

  • Things to know as City take on league leaders Liverpool 

    Things to know as City take on league leaders Liverpool 

    Pep Guardiola’s side faces their old rivals in a crucial showdown for both teams.

    Manchester City, currently fourth in the table, will be eager to solidify their position in the Champions League spots. While their title hopes are fading, they will be keen to disrupt their opponent’s ambitions on Sunday.

    City heads into the clash on the back of a dominant 4-0 victory over Newcastle last weekend but will be looking to bounce back from their midweek European exit against Real Madrid.

    Football fans can expect high-stakes action, with Egyptian stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush set to feature in the contest.

    Here are few things to know ahead of the contest 

    1. Manchester City have lost just one of their last 15 Premier League home games against Liverpool (W8 D6), going down 4-1 in November 2015 under Manuel Pellegrini.

    2. Following their 2-0 win at Anfield in December, Liverpool are looking to complete the Premier League double over Manchester City for just the third time (also 2005-06 and 2015-16).

    3. Liverpool have achieved the Premier League double over the reigning champions six times previously, more than any other side in the competition’s history (vs Blackburn in 1995-96, Man Utd in 2000-01, 2001-02, 2008-09 and 2013-14, and Chelsea in 2010-11).

    4. Since Christmas, only Liverpool and Arsenal have won more points in the Premier League than Manchester City (17 – W5 D2 L1). In their eight games beforehand, City picked up only four points (W1 D1 L6).

    Read Also: FULL LIST: UCL: Madrid face Atlético, PSG host Liverpool, other last 16 draw

    5. Liverpool are unbeaten in each of their last 13 Premier League games played on a Sunday (W11 D2) while scoring multiple goals in each of those matches, since a 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace in April 2024.

    Manchester City vs Liverpool – Predicted lineup and team news

    Manchester City Predicted Lineup

    Man City predicted XI: Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Nico, Kovacic, Silva; Foden, Marmoush, Haaland.

    Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota

    When is Manchester City vs Liverpool?

    KO: 5:30pm 

    Venue: Etihad Stadium

    Bet Predictions 

    Over 1.5 goals 

  • Premier League in crisis as they lose legal battle with Man City

    Premier League in crisis as they lose legal battle with Man City

    The Premier League has suffered a significant setback after a tribunal deemed its sponsorship rules – which operated for almost three years – null and void.

    In a bombshell verdict – that could now trigger a series of giant compensation claims and plunge the competition into crisis – an independent panel has sided with champions Manchester City and deemed that the league’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) regulations, which ran from December 2021 to November 2024, were unlawful in their entirety.

    After proposed deals with Etihad Airways and First Abu Dhabi Bank were blocked in 2023, City took the Premier League to court, effectively declaring war. They claimed that the league’s APT rules, around commercial deals clubs do with parties linked to them, were unlawful.

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    In September last year, a tribunal agreed with City, highlighting three elements which it deemed unlawful. One was the fact that shareholder loans – where parties with stakes in clubs such as Arsenal and Liverpool often lend money at low or no interest – were not subject to the same fair market value tests included in the APT rules.

    At the time, a row erupted between City and the Premier League, with the latter claiming that a number of tweaks to the rules would suffice.

    Chief executive Richard Masters claimed the tribunal had actually ‘endorsed’ the APT rules, and added it had only found ‘certain discrete elements…that need to be amended’.

  • Former Man City defender Mendy Joins FC Zurich

    Former Man City defender Mendy Joins FC Zurich

    Former Manchester City left-back Benjamin Mendy has signed for Swiss club FC Zurich with immediate effect.

    According to a report from Fabrizio Romano’s X handle on Wednesday, the 30-year-old has penned a contract running until 2026, making the move from French side Lorient, where he spent the past one-and-a-half seasons.

    Read Also: Ballon d’Or banner at Etihad Stadium gave me strength, Vinicius says

    Mendy joined Lorient after his release from Manchester City, where he made 75 appearances between 2017 and 2022.

    Mendy successfully won his legal case against Manchester City, reclaiming a substantial portion of his unpaid salary, which had been withheld during his trial on rape charges.

    He signed with Lorient later that month, nearly two years after his last professional appearance, and went on to make 15 appearances for the club. Lorient was relegated to Ligue 2 following the 2023-24 season.

    FC Zurich sits eighth in the Swiss league, seven points behind leaders Basel. The Swiss transfer window remains open until February 17.

  • UCL: Things to know as Real Madrid, Man City clash tonight

    UCL: Things to know as Real Madrid, Man City clash tonight

    LaLiga leaders Real Madrid will visit England on Tuesday to face a struggling Manchester City in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) knockout tie. 

    The Spanish giants, who clinched both the LaLiga and Champions League titles last season, enter the clash as strong favorites against the reigning Premier League champions. 

    While Real Madrid holds the edge, their rivalry with City remains one of European football’s fiercest. 

    Despite City’s underwhelming domestic campaign, they still boast a squad filled with world-class talent—players who will be eager to defy expectations and challenge the 15-time UCL winners.

    Manchester City versus Real Madrid will be just the fourth fixture in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history to played in four consecutive seasons, after Deportivo de La Coruña v Juventus (4 from 2000-01 to 2003-04), Chelsea v Liverpool (5 from 2004-05 to 2008-09), and Atlético de Madrid v Real Madrid (4 from 2013-14 to 2016-17).

    This will be the 13th time Manchester City have faced Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League (W4 D5 L3). Of opponents Real Madrid have played against 5+ times in their European Cup/Champions League history, their win percentage of 25% against the Citizens is their lowest against any opponent.

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    Despite only losing three of their 12 games against them in the competition, Manchester City have been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League knockout stages by Real Madrid more often than by any other opponent (3 times).

    Real Madrid have knocked an English club out of the UEFA Champions League knockout stages 13 times; only Los Blancos themselves have eliminated opponents from a specific nation more often in the competition (16 v German clubs).

    Real Madrid have knocked out an English Premier League club from the knockout stages of each of the last four UEFA Champions League seasons: 2020-21 (Liverpool), 2021-22 (Chelsea, Man City, & Liverpool), 2022-23 (Liverpool & Chelsea), 2023-24 (Man City).

    Possible Lineups:

    Manchester City:

    Ederson (GK); Nunes, Akanji, Stones, Gvardiol, Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Marmoush, Grealish, Haaland.

    Real Madrid:

    Courtois (GK); Vazquez, Tchouameni, Asencio, Garcia, Valverde, Modric, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Mbappe, Vini Jr.

    Head-to-Head:

    Total matches: 14

    Man City won: 5

    Real Madrid won: 4

    Draws: 5

    The Last Time They Clashed

    The teams last faced off in the 2024 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, where Real Madrid edged past defending champions Manchester City in a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout at the Etihad Stadium, with Antonio Rüdiger netting the decisive spot-kick. 

    In two of their last three encounters over the past three years, Madrid entered as underdogs, were largely outplayed, yet still managed to eliminate City. 

    The European champions will host the second leg of this high-stakes playoff clash at the Bernabéu on February 19.

    Who: Manchester City vs Real Madrid

    What: UEFA Champions League – Knockout phase, first leg

    Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, UK

    When: Tuesday February 11

    Time: 9:00pm  

    Bet Predictions

    Over 1.5goals

  • Man City wary of weakened Real Madrid, says Guardiola

    Man City wary of weakened Real Madrid, says Guardiola

    Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said his side were well aware of Real Madrid’s habit of producing their best in tough times, with a string of injuries having depleted the visitors’ defence ahead of  tonight’s Champions League playoff.

    Real and City failed to advance automatically to the last 16 as one of the top eight sides in the Champions League table after they finished 11th  and 22nd , respectively, in the new league-phase format and have to play a two-legged playoff.

    The clubs will clash for a fourth consecutive year, having met in four Champions League knockout ties since 2020.

    In the first leg of the playoff tie at the Etihad on Tuesday, LaLiga leaders Real will be without key defenders Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao and David Alaba.

    “I think both teams have had problems in terms of injuries during the season. Madrid handled it much better than us because they are still top of the league and fighting against Atletico Madrid,” Guardiola told reporters on Monday.

    “That shows again the consistency they have. At the end they are a huge competitor. We know it.

    “We have faced it many times with them and how in the tough moments they bring the best of them – we know it. Of course we have to make two good games to go through.”

    Since the sides’ met last year, Real have strengthened an already formidable attack with the acquisition of Kylian Mbappe, who is supported by Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr.

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    Guardiola said it would be impossible to shut out Real’s forwards, adding: “They are exceptional.

    “How they combine, the runners, the ability one-against-one, how they keep the ball, all four are exceptional. Everybody knows it, so you have to reduce that involvement as much as possible, knowing that it’s going to happen, accept it.”

    City have endured a testing time on the pitch this season and are languishing fifth in the Premier League, 15 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, with the prospect of a record-extending fifth successive title all but dashed already.

    Defender Ruben Dias said the campaign has been his most challenging since joining City in 2020, but the Portuguese international stressed he was still optimistic about the club’s chances in the Champions League.

    “I’m a firm believer that even in the most difficult scenario, most difficult beginning, you can still do something and achieve something beautiful in the end,” he told reporters.

    “Right now, we are still in that position. Obviously we know how difficult our opposition is and how difficult our way will be to get there.

    “But it’s a question of believing in what we have in the dressing room and we have loads of talent. We just have to use them in the right way. With the right belief, we are able to do anything.”

    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES

    Brest  vs. PSG

    Juventus vs.  PSV

    Man. City vs. Madrid

    Sporting vs. Dortmund

  • Man City come from behind to avoid shock FA Cup exit

    Man City come from behind to avoid shock FA Cup exit

    Man City survived a huge FA Cup fourth-round scare as they came from behind to beat League One Leyton Orient – despite trailing to an outrageous opener.

    Leyton Orient midfielder Jamie Donley provided one of the FA Cup moments of the season with a 50-yard shot that cannoned off the bar and into the net via goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.

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    City eventually turned the tie on its head in the second half, equalising when Rico Lewis’ shot deflected in off new signing Abdoukodir Khusanov before Kevin de Bruyne finished from close range 12 minutes from time.

  • Arsenal crush Man City to stay firmly in title hunt

    Arsenal crush Man City to stay firmly in title hunt

    Arsenal delivered a statement of intent in the Premier League title race with a 5-1 hammering of champions Manchester City to close the gap at the top to six points.

    Captain Martin Odegaard fired Arsenal into a second-minute lead and City were finished off in ruthless fashion after the break with teenagers Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri both on target for the rampant Gunners.

    Erling Haaland’s 55th -minute equaliser, his 250th  senior career goal, had briefly raised City’s hopes, but they could have no complaints as any lingering chance of winning a fifth successive title surely disappeared into the north London night.

    Arsenal are now 14 games unbeaten in the league and have 50 points from 24 games with leaders Liverpool on 56 from 23.

    Manchester City are a distant fourth with 41.

    Arsenal have been accused of being over-reliant on set-piece goals this season but on Sunday they played with fluency and flare to rack up their biggest home win of the league season.

    “It was a top game, a top performance and with the fans and the atmosphere it can’t be better, so very happy,” Odegaard said. “In the end, I think we got what we deserved.”

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    City, whose six-game unbeaten run in the league had suggested they were returning to form, were generally second-best apart from a lively spell before halftime when Arsenal keeper David Raya was forced into a couple of crucial saves.

    “It is difficult. I think all of us don’t take losing well,” City defender John Stones said. “It is hard to put into words straight after a game like that.

    “How we played in the last 30 minutes was not acceptable.”

    Sloppy City gifted Arsenal the lead when Manuel Akanji was put in trouble by teammate John Stones and was dispossessed before Kai Havertz calmly set up Odegaard to sweep home from close range despite an attempted block by Stones.

    With City at sixes and sevens, Arsenal thought they had made it 2-0 shortly afterwards when Gabriel Martinelli lifted a shot past Stefan Ortega but was adjudged to be offside.

    City were spared further punishment when they again lost the ball playing out from the back and Havertz, with the whole goal to aim at, somehow dragged his shot wide.

    Haaland touched the ball only six times in the first half but came alive in the 55th minute to head in Savinho’s cross.

    For a moment it looked as though Arsenal’s earlier misses might haunt them but 38 seconds after the restart Phil Foden gave the ball away and Thomas Partey’s shot deflected off Stones to leave Ortega with no chance.

  • EPL: Man City beat Chelsea, return to top four

    EPL: Man City beat Chelsea, return to top four

    Erling Haaland took advantage of a major blunder from Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to score the decisive goal as Manchester City won to return to the Premier League’s top four.

    Sanchez was caught badly out of position as he came out, then tried to scurry back as Haaland tussled with Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah to reach Ederson’s long punt forward.

    When Haaland won the physical duel, he deliberately moved the ball on to his left foot before chipping Sanchez for his 18th league goal of the season and his sixth in his last six games in all competitions.

    Phil Foden wrapped up victory three minutes from time when he ran on to Haaland’s lay-off to score his fifth goal in four games.

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    The win extended City’s unbeaten league run to six, gave Ederson the notable achievement of becoming the first goalkeeper to claim two assists in a single season in 16 years and, more importantly, spared the blushes of £33.6m debutant Abdukodir Khusanov, who had been at fault for Chelsea’s third-minute opener – when he headed the ball into Nicolas Jackson’s path deep into the City half. Jackson’s square pass to Noni Madueke gave the forward a tap-in.

    Foden struck a post and City’s other new signing Omar Marmoush had a goal disallowed before Josko Gvardiol equalised as he reacted quickest to finish the rebound after Sanchez had denied Matheus Nunes.

    After a bright start, during which they failed to take a golden chance to double their lead when Cole Palmer squared a pass too far in front of Jackson, who would have had an open goal to aim at, Chelsea faded and are now without a win in 11 meetings with City.

    Despite rotating his stellar roster of international attacking players, Enzo Maresca’s side did not really threaten to force their way back into the contest once Haaland had struck.