Manchester Metropolis start 2026 with a visit to face excessive flying Sunderland within the Premier League.
The Blues ended the yr in fantastic kind, successful eight video games in a row in all competitions, however they face a troublesome check in opposition to Regis le Bris’s aspect who haven’t misplaced at residence within the Premier League all season.
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Listed here are 5 issues to look out for on the Stadium of Gentle:
Doku – will he be again within the matchday squad?
Pep Guardiola stated in his pre-match press convention that Jeremy Doku could possibly be set to return to the matchday squad after a number of weeks out injured.
Metropolis’s quantity 11 picked up a muscle harm after the 2-1 win away to Actual Madrid originally of December, with the preliminary prognosis together with an anticipated return on New 12 months’s Day.
He hasn’t been pictured in coaching since, however Guardiola stated it was nonetheless a chance that Doku would return in opposition to the Black Cats.
The bench has been sparse in latest weeks with Oscar Bobb, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic injured, with Rodri solely not too long ago returning and Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri on the Africa Cup of Nations.
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If he’s match sufficient, subsequently, I count on him to be introduced straight again into the squad to fill a spot on the bench not less than.
A distinct Sunderland setup from the reverse fixture
On the Etihad Stadium in December, Sunderland sat extremely deep out of possession in a 5-4-1 formation. They had been clearly enjoying for some extent, as they’ve accomplished efficiently in opposition to Arsenal and Liverpool to this point this season.
However on the Stadium of Gentle I count on them to be a bit extra ahead pondering. Like Metropolis, they’re impacted by AFCON and gained’t be at full power however their residence benefit means they’ll be extra inclined to be on the entrance foot.
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They’ve wonderful gamers in good kind, and in addition to Metropolis have performed over the previous couple of months they’ve confirmed they’re succesful sufficient to trigger the Blues issues by going at them.
A little bit of rotation earlier than Chelsea
After an honest relaxation, Metropolis have two video games in 4 days as they face Chelsea this Sunday.
Issues are up within the air about supervisor Enzo Maresca’s future, with the previous Metropolis assistant supervisor reportedly sad with the way in which Chelsea are run and their switch technique.
Nonetheless, Chelsea have good gamers and have the capabilities to trigger enormous points for Guardiola’s staff.
The likes of Savinho, Nathan Ake and even Rico Lewis could possibly be in line for a begin in opposition to Sunderland to relaxation a number of of the extra common first staff starters forward of Sunday’s affair.
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Do Metropolis adapt in (potential) closing recreation earlier than Semenyo?
The January switch window has simply opened and already it seems that Metropolis have accomplished their first deal.
Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, who has a £65 million launch clause, has reportedly rejected approaches from Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United as a way to seal a transfer to Metropolis, who’re anticipating to wrap the deal up shortly.
In latest weeks, Metropolis’s wingers have tucked in extraordinarily slender, to permit the likes of Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki to get into the pockets that they thrive in.
Semenyo is extra of a large ahead, although he may function centrally if wanted. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see if Metropolis utilise an strategy with wider forwards now Semenyo appears to be like to be heading via the door, or whether or not the Ghanaian ahead will probably be maybe pressured right into a place he has much less expertise in.
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Lastly… the return of Rodri?
In the end, Metropolis have Rodri again within the squad.
He has spent nearly all of the final 15 months injured, recovering for a brief time period originally of the season earlier than struggling a hamstring harm in October that dominated him out for almost three months.
However Guardiola has stated many occasions that a big interval of that point on the sidelines was precautionary; they wish to be sure that there will probably be no re-occurrences of the 2024 Ballon D’or winner’s muscular issues.
He’ll should be phased again in gently as a way to protect his health while build up match sharpness, and Nico Gonzalez is doing an excellent job in his absence so there’ll be no rush.
At his finest Rodri is the most effective on this planet in his place although, so getting him again to his finest will probably be invaluable for Metropolis within the second half of the season.
Prediction…Sunderland 0-2 Manchester Metropolis
