Manchester City bring their squad, worth approx £390m, to the Welsh capital to face Premier League new boys Cardiff City in tomorrow's Super Sunday clash that's live on Sky Sports, ko 4:00pm.
It's a David v Goliath clash that looks set to see a record attandance for Cardiff City Stadium. Extra seats have been added to the ground and the attendance could reach 27,000.
No one is giving Cardiff a hope after their disappointing Premier League debut at West Ham last Saturday and seeing Man City take Newcastle apart on Monday the signs are all pointing towards a comfortable away win.
But in football shocks happen. The home crowd can play a huge part in making this match very uncomfortable for the Premier League favourites.
Cardiff hope to have new signing Andreas Cornelius available after injury in pre season kept him out of last weeks game. Full back Andrew Taylor has completed a one match suspension and is likely to replace Declan John at left back.
Matt Connolly's place might be under pressure but John Brayford, his likely replacement, didn't even make the bench last week.
Also out of the squad were wide men Craig Noone and Craig Conway with Malky preferring Tommy Smith and Don Cowie. I hope the boss is more adventurous tomorrow.
It will be the first time most fans will get to see record signing Gary Medel (left) and a chance for Craig Bellamy to play against his former club.
Man City will be with skipper Vincent Kompany. The Belgian defender went off injured against Newcastle and could be out for a month.
The Man City suad just oozes quality, Hart, Toure, Silva, Dzeco, Negredo, Navas, Aguero (right), Fernandinho, Lescott, Nasri and on and on it goes.
Last season under Roberto Mancini City had attiutude problems that saw them produce a few indifferent results with the FA Cup final defeat against Wigan a prime example. Under Pellegrini though so far they seem a more settled group.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- The last time the clubs met, then-Third Division strugglers Cardiff pulled off a shock 1-0 win over Premier League City at Ninian Park in the FA Cup fourth round in 1994. Nathan Blake scored the winner and Mark Grew saved a penalty from Keith Curle.
- Their last league fixture was in the second tier in March 1985, a 2-2 draw at Maine Road.
- The most common result of any meeting between the two clubs is a draw - 20 of their 47 matches have ended level, while City have won 19 and Cardiff eight.
Cardiff City
- Cardiff are without a win in five league matches. They drew their final four matches of the 2012-13 Championship season.
- But they have not lost at home since a 2-0 Championship defeat to Brighton in February.
- Malky Mackay's side won a club record 10 successive home league matches from the start of last season.
- Craig Bellamy has now played for seven Premier League teams, a feat matched by Andy Cole, Tal Ben Haim and Wayne Routledge. Only Marcus Bent (8) has played for more.
Manchester City
- Against Newcastle on Monday, City completed 90% of their passes - the best ratio in the division in the opening round of fixtures.
- Sergio Aguero has scored 24 of his 36 Premier League goals at the Etihad Stadium. City are unbeaten in all 27 Premier League matches in which he has scored (W25, D2).
- David Silva's 15th Premier League goal - in the win over Newcastle - was the first he has scored in the English top flight with his head.
- Yaya Toure has become the fifth Ivorian to play 100 Premier League matches (after Kolo Toure, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Emmanuel Eboue).
