Manchester City v Middlesbrough Preview – Citizens to be held by the Boro

Categories: Football | Published by: AC

04/11/2016

Updated: 01/02/2023

Manchester City v Middlesbrough preview and correct score football tips for the match on Saturday 05th November 2016.

Manchester City will be hosting a team who they are not very familiar with. For Middlesbrough the 2016-17 season is their first entry into the Premier League season after 2008-09. The only time these two clubs met in recent years was in 2015, when they played in a FA Cup tie which the Citizens lost 0-2. Prior to 2009, the exchanges between the two were peppered with almost equal number of victories and losses for both. But then, those were the days when Manchester City did not have the power of petro dollars behind them. The Citizens of now are League leaders and will probably intend on holding on to the top spot after their Saturday clash with the Boros.

Aitor Karanka's men have held out well against teams of the bottom half of the EPL table. This has been in evidence against Stoke City (draw), Sunderland (win), West Bromwich (draw), West Ham (draw) and 10th placed Bournemouth (win). But the true feather in the cap was their last encounter with Arsenal. There they held the League front-runners to a dogged 0-0 draw.

It will take a lot of doing for a tired City, just out from a gruelling UEFA Champions encounter with Barcelona, to break down the Middlesbrough back line. Moreover, Boros have surprised many with their penchant for counter-attacking. Players like the mercurial playmaker Adama Traore in tandem with attacking midfielder Gastón Ramirez and the nifty striker Álvaro Negredo could prove to be a handful for the City defence.

The resurgence of City super-striker Sergio Aguero will surely spell trouble for the visitors. He has been the club’s top scorer this season with 13 goals from as many appearances. Apart from that, if Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne are fully fit, it will take a lot to stop them.

A lot of possession will be hogged by City at the Etihad on Saturday, no doubt about that. New City import from Borussia Dortmund, Ilkay Gündogan, has been very impressive in the midfield. He has displayed a flair for scoring ,a trait that will be evident against the Boros.

Despite the wealth of talent at their disposal, Manchester City will take Middlesbrough lightly at their own peril.

The Boros have been playing much better than the 15th placed Premier League team they are. Surprises could be in store at the Etihad on Saturday although the odds overwhelmingly favour the hosts.