Man City set a new club record by winning six consecutive Premier League games to begin the new season.
The reigning champions are the only top-flight team to have a perfect record.
Rodri will miss a crucial match after being sent off against Forest.
Manchester City ploughed through to a sixth-consecutive Premier League victory of the season, but Saturday’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest was not as straightforward as the opening half-hour suggested it may have been.
Rodri’s 46th-minute red card, the first of his senior career, put City on the back foot for the entirety of a nervy second half against Forest. Pep Guardiola’s side did not test goalkeeper Matt Turner while playing with ten men and completed just 65% of their passes, often hacking the ball clear before another Forest surge forward.
City are involved in three competitions across their next three matches but Rodri could be missing for as many as three games following his red card for violent conduct.
Here’s what lies ahead for City without their midfield totem.
Newcastle vs Man City – Carabao Cup
Last season, Nathan Jones’ brief and peculiar tenure as Southampton manager resulted in only one Premier League victory, but he did manage to knock City out of the Carabao Cup. Guardiola’s team responded by winning every other competition possible.
Newcastle United defeated Southampton in a two-legged semi-final last January before falling to City’s rivals Manchester United in the final. Both Newcastle and Manchester City will be looking to improve in this year’s campaign.
Wolves vs Man City – Premier League
Matheus Nunes will return to Molineux with his new Manchester City colleagues less than a month after supposedly going on strike at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Nunes and the Wolves hierarchy are not on good terms. “I was disappointed with how it ended, it wasn’t necessary the stance Matheus took,” Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs remarked. “Matheus is a tremendously talented player who would admit that he did not reach the heights he expected last season.” Can he replicate those performances against Wolves at the end of September?
RB Leipzig vs Man City – Champions League
Marco Rose has made no attempt to hide his adoration for Guardiola. Rose exclaimed before leading Borussia Monchengladbach into a Champions League match versus City two years ago: “He is a fantastic character.” He has had a huge impact on world football in recent years.”
After claiming that City were “playing almost ‘Total Football'” in 2021, the German coach later said that the addition of Erling Haaland had made Guardiola’s side “much more difficult to play” and “more complete.” Based on Rose’s adoration, his team has little chance in the forthcoming group-stage game.
04/10/23 – RB Leipzig vs Man City (20:00
Arsenal vs Man City – Premier League
Guardiola had been praising City’s closest title opponents from last season before letting out a well-timed giggle at Manchester United’s expense. “You know how strong Arsenal are,” Guardiola continued, sliding into his usual reverent mumble. “I saw the game at Goodison Park yesterday [Sunday].” They are outstanding.”
If Arsenal want to beat City in this year’s title race, they cannot afford to lose both league encounters. Only seven champions in the history of England’s top division have lost home and away to their nearest rivals during a title-winning season.
08.10.23 – Arsenal vs. Manchester City (16:30)
Man City vs Brighton – Premier League
According to Jacamo, there has been an increase in purchases “inspired by [Roberto] De Zerbi’s suave sideline style.” Guardiola isn’t opposed to a black jumper, jeans, and a pair of white trainers, but he admires Brighton’s manager’s strategic – rather than sartorial – decisions.
Last April, Guardiola lauded De Zerbi’s side as the “best in the world” at building up from the back and hailed the Italian as “one of the most influential managers” of the last 20 years. The love-in is mutual, with De Zerbi revealing: “I became a coach because of him.”
- 21/10/23 – Man City vs Brighton (15:00)
Young Boys vs Man City – Champions League
City may have won the big-eared trophy in June, but it was no easy ride to their first Champions League title. Guardiola’s team won just one of their six away matches in the competition before edging Inter in a nail-biting final on neutral ground.
Swiss champions Young Boys lost their first home game in 13 months against RB Leipzig in their opening European game. City will naturally arrive as favourites but a victory should not be considered a foregone conclusion.
- 25/10/23 – Young Boys vs Man City (20:00)
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