Preview
Pellegrini's under-performers look ahead to a Sunday spar with Spurs.
Late comebacks and late goals have been a welcome characteristic of City-Spurs clashes down the years, but is it too late for Manchester City to resurrect their fading title hopes?
The blues slump in a dismal 8th place after eleven Premier League games and contemptible comparisons are already being made regarding City's irresistible home and painful away form. Pellegrini's men suffered a customary 1-0 loss at 'The Stadium Of Plight' a fortnight ago in a phlegmatic performance and a number of dark clouded questions now lie over the Chilean's head.
City crashed to an all too familiar loss at the Stadium Of Light a fortnight ago.
The dullness of the International break has been affecting even the media who have taken their time to concoct a menacing cauldron of rumours designed to render City's path up the table even more slippery. Star striker Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure are the latest players to declare their happiness in Manchester and refute claims of an impending move away from the Etihad.
Andre Villas Boas's side may sit a point ahead of their hosts, but the Portuguese has also experienced some niggling problems this campaign. The Lilywhites have struggled in front of goal since Gareth Bales £85m move to Real Madrid in summer and crashed to an unpalatable 1-0 loss at home to Newcastle two weeks ago. With only nine goals to boast as opposed to City's twenty-eight, Spurs will be relying on their solid defensive record to keep out Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo on Sunday.
Tottenham have struggled for goals so far this season.
City fans will have hoped that they could escape the times when City v Spurs games wielded so much importance, however, Sunday's 8th v 7th clash could potentially kick start either team's average start to the season.
If home form is anything to go by, it should be an easy Sunday afternoon for the blues, but unpredictability, I'm sure, will continue to shadow us for decades to come.
2-0
Line-Up
Matija Nastasic and Fernandinho are expected to make a return to the starting line-up after missing out on City's 1-0 loss to Sunderland. Tottenham midfielder Sandro has highlighted his Brazilian teammate as City's main man and says his side will have to stop the £30m man if Spurs are to achieve a result on Sunday.
Fernandinho could be City's main man on Sunday.
Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Stevan Jovetic are set for at least another week on the sidelines and are expected to return for an away tie at the Hawthornes on the 4th December.
Meanwhile, Tottenham's Christian Eriksen has been ruled out for four weeks with an ankle injury.
Key Men
Alvaro Negredo
If City are to bustle with a rigid Spurs defence, the strength of Spain striker Alvaro Negredo will be their most potent weapon. With only 6 goals conceded this season, Villas Boas's men have the second best defensive record in the league and Negredo will be hoping to dismantle that impressive record.
Andros Townsend
The England winger has stepped into the shoes of Gareth Bale rather comfortably this season and his pace and trickery is sure to trouble City's leaky defence on Sunday. With Christian Eriksen injured, Spurs may exploit the flanks rather than play against City through the middle.
