Seeking to climb back into the Premier League's top five, Champions League-chasing Manchester City play host to Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.
The Citizens and the Eagles played out a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park in December, with Pep Guardiola's side forced to come from behind twice to rescue a point.
Match preview
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After watching their side beat Bournemouth to progress to the FA Cup semi-finals before getting the better of a doomed Leicester City outfit in the Premier League, Man City supporters were hoping to celebrate three wins in a row for the first time since January at the hands of their rivals Manchester United last weekend.
However, the 196th Manchester derby was a dull and disappointing encounter that ended goalless at Old Trafford, and another two points dropped by Guardiola's side leaves their Champions League qualification hopes in the balance heading into their remaining seven top-flight fixtures.
Man City have been boosted by the news that finishing fifth in the Premier League will secure a place at Europe's top table next season, but as things stand, they sit in sixth spot and one point behind both Chelsea in fourth and Newcastle United in fifth, the latter of whom have a game in hand.
Four or Man City's next five Premier League fixtures are against bottom-half teams, starting with Saturday's clash against 11th-placed Crystal Palace, a side who the Citizens have lost just one of their last 12 top-flight meetings with (W7 D4) - going down 2-0 at the Etihad in October 2021.
Guardiola's men have in fact won only two of their last six home league games against the Eagles (D2 L2), and they have also failed to win any of their last three Saturday lunchtime kickoffs (D1 L2), so success in front of their own fans is not a given this time around.
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Man City are sure to be aware of Crystal Palace's impressive run of form during which they have lost only two of their last 17 matches across all competitions since the end of December (W12 D3), and they extended their unbeaten run to seven games with a 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.
Despite ending the feisty M23 derby with nine men, goals from Daniel Munoz and Jean-Philippe Mateta secured maximum points for the Eagles, who have climbed up to 11th place and sit just two points behind Bournemouth in 10th. A late push for Europe cannot be entirely ruled out, as they sit five points behind eighth-placed Fulham with a game in hand.
Only champions-elect Liverpool (23) have picked up more points over the last 10 Premier League matches than Crystal Palace (22 - W7 D1 L2), while the Eagles have also won four of their last five league games (D1), and six of their last eight away from home (D2).
Oliver Glasner's side travel to the Etihad unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League away games (W6 D4) and never before in their league history have they enjoyed a longer run without defeat on the road. The Eagles won four of those games in a row by a 2-0 scoreline before drawing 1-1 with relegated Southampton in their most recent away trip.
Palace have had mixed success in front of goal when facing Man City at the Etihad, as they have either failed to score (five times) or have scored exactly twice (six times) in their last 11 Premier League visits. The Eagles will be boosted by the fact that the Citizens have kept just four clean sheets out of 15 on home soil this season.
Team News
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Man City will be without Rodri (ACL) Nathan Ake (foot), John Stones (thigh), Erling Haaland (ankle) and Manuel Akanji (abductor) through injury, the latter is believed to be closing in on a return after undergoing surgery in mid-February, but Saturday's game will come too soon for the defender.
Rico Lewis, who scored before being sent off in the reverse fixture against Palace, and Abdukodir Khusanov will hope to return in defence, but Guardiola may be tempted to stick with a back four of Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Nico O'Reilly who have helped City keep back-to-back clean sheets.
Nico Gonzalez is in contention to return and replace either Mateo Kovacic or Ilkay Gundogan, while Kevin De Bruyne could captain the Citizens at the Etihad for the first time since announcing his departure at the end of the season.
Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden are in danger of being replaced out wide as Savinho, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish are all pushing for a recall, while Omar Marmoush - who has scored five goals in as many top-flight games at the Etihad since joining in January - is set to continue up front in Haaland's absence.
As for Crystal Palace, Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure both remain sidelined with long-term knee injuries, while captain Marc Guehi and Eddie Nketiah are both suspended after being sent off against Brighton.
Glasner has revealed that Romain Esse and Matt Turner will not travel with the squad due to illness, but defensive duo Chris Richards and Maxence Lacroix are both available for selection, the latter has been passed fit after being withdrawn as a concussion substitute last time out.
Man City-linked Adam Wharton is likely to partner either Will Hughes or Daichi Kamada in centre-midfield, while Glasner is unlikely to make any changes in the final third, with both Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr expected to provide support in attack for central striker Mateta, who is hoping to end his four-game goal drought away from home.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Gundogan, Gonzalez; Savinho, De Bruyne, Doku; Marmoush
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Lerma, Lacroix, Richards; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta
We say: Manchester City 2-1 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have been a problematic opponent for Man City in recent years and Glasner's fearless, in-form crop will back themselves to cause an upset at the Etihad this weekend.
The Citizens will still be regarded as favourites, though, and if Guardiola's attackers manage to click in the final third, then they should have enough to get the better of a potentially weakened Palace backline.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
