Stoke City
vs
Manchester City
Kick-off
20:00 GMT
12 March 2018
Monday Night Football returns to the Bet365 Stadium at the end of this footballing weekend and the champions-elect are in town, looking to bring the title ever closer to the Etihad. Stoke are struggling at the other end of the table, a point adrift of safety in the relegation zone. A win would take them out but against one of Europe’s strongest teams, they have very little chance.
As they have against most teams, Man City have dominated Stoke in their recent meetings. Monday’s hosts have won just twice in the last 17 meetings with the league leaders and they were taken apart in the last one in October. They were beaten 7-2 at the Etihad in one of Guardiola’s textbook demolitions with six different Man City scorers. Stoke did actually beat them just over three years ago at the Bet365 thanks to a first-half Marko Arnautovic brace. The Citizens have only scored more than one goal once away at Stoke in the Premier League era.
A very unlikely victory for Stoke would take them out of the drop zone but without the man who scored for them at the Etihad in October, Mame Biram Diouf, they will be even less confident.
Latest matches: Stoke City
03.03.2018 | ![]() |
Southampton FC | Stoke City | 0:0 | D |
24.02.2018 | ![]() |
Leicester City | Stoke City | 1:1 | D |
10.02.2018 | ![]() |
Stoke City | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1:1 | D |
03.02.2018 | ![]() |
Bournemouth AFC | Stoke City | 2:1 | L |
31.01.2018 | ![]() |
Stoke City | Watford FC | 0:0 | D |
After a full weekend of Premier League action, City’s lead at the top was cut to 13 points, they’ll be looking to make it 16 on Monday evening. Aguero is injured while Fabian Delph, Fernandinho and Sterling are all in for fitness tests, it will be a surprise if they are all risked.
Latest matches: Manchester City
07.03.2018 | ![]() |
Manchester City | FC Basel | 1:2 | L |
04.03.2018 | ![]() |
Manchester City | Chelsea FC | 1:0 | W |
01.03.2018 | ![]() |
Arsenal FC | Manchester City | 0:3 | W |
25.02.2018 | ![]() |
Manchester City | Arsenal FC | 3:0 | W |
19.02.2018 | ![]() |
Wigan Athletic | Manchester City | 1:0 | L |
It doesn’t take a genius to say that Manchester City are huge favourites for their trip slightly south to Stoke. An early goal or two could make it very ugly for Stoke on Monday night, their only hope of a result will be to hang on to a goalless draw and maybe hit the visitors on the break.
12 March 2018 - 20:00 GMT
Share your opinion about this preview by leaving a comment below.