Manchester City Vs Stoke

1st Jan 2013
Etihad Stadium

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri begins a three-match ban following his red card at Norwich.
Striker Mario Balotelli (virus) is not yet ready to return while full-backs Aleksandar Kolarov and Maicon (knee) also remain on the sidelines.

Steven Nzonzi is available after Stoke appealed against his red card for a challenge on Southampton's Jack Cork.
Captain Ryan Shawcross and right-back Geoff Cameron return after serving one-match suspensions.

MATCH FACTS BBC

Head-to-head

• Manchester City have beaten Stoke in all four previous Premier League meetings at home, scoring a combined 11 goals without reply.
  
• Robert Mancini began his reign as Manchester City manager with a 2-0 home win over Stoke on Boxing Day 2009.
  
• Stoke last won at City in October 1997; their only victory in 12 subsequent league meetings between the sides came at home in January 2009 when they triumphed 1-0 despite playing over half the match with 10 men after Rory Delap was sent off.

Manchester City

• They have won all four of their previous New Year's Day Premier League fixtures at home.
  
• City have scored 18 goals fewer after 20 games than at the equivalent stage last season. They are also six points worse off in the current campaign.
  
• Roberto Mancini's side have recovered 15 points from losing positions - only Manchester United (24) and Everton (17) have fared better.
  
• The defending league champions are yet to lose a game after opening the scoring (W9, D1).

Stoke City

• Stoke are unbeaten in their last 10 league games (W5, D5). The only team to have gone on a longer unbeaten run at any point in the Premier League this season are Manchester City (15).
  
• The Potters have lost just three league matches this season, a record bettered only by Manchester City and Everton (two).
  
• However, they have lost all 10 of their Premier League trips to Manchester since promotion in 2008, scoring just three goals.
  
• Kenwyne Jones has scored in three of his last four appearances, having previously gone 27 league games without a goal.
  
• Jon Walters has started each of Stoke's last 73 league games, the longest current run of any outfield player in the league.

Man City to win 1-0 or 2-1.

Close Man City win. I can see the fullbacks not having the freedom they would like to have.

Think City will win comfortably

And they did win comfortably

Aguero injured. Could miss the Arsenal game.

Mancini said he might be back in 2-3 days lol

It's amazing just how much luck they get with injuries. They have a much better medical team than us.

I can't remember the last time they lost a key player for a long period of time due to injury.

Second time Aguero gets an injury that seems long term but ends up being very minor... How does he do it? :shocked:

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has confirmed on Twitter he has torn a hamstring and is in Italy receiving treatment for the injury.

Hopefully out against us