The last weekend before the first international break is here, and the most lopsided game on paper, according to forecasters, is definitely Brighton & Hove Albion at Manchester City. Of course, games are not played on paper, by simulations and forecasts.
They are played in real life by human beings, and sometimes, crazy things happen. City didn’t expect to drop points at home to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, and they were kind of robbed in that result. The second place Sky Blues will effort to get a fool proof result here.
In looking at the team news for this one, City manager Pep Guardiola could see defender John Stones (thigh) in contention to start, but winger Leroy Sane (ACL), striker Gabriel Jesus (hamstring) and defender Benjamin Mendy (knee) are on the shelf for this one.
Flipping over to the 8th place Seagulls, Florin Andone is unavailable due to suspension. He picked up a red card against Southampton last week.
Brighton will also be without the services of long-term injury absentees Jose Izquierdo (knee), Yves Bissouma (shoulder) and Ezequiel Schelotto (knee). Brighton face the very longest of odds in this one.
Brighton & Hove Albion at Manchester City FC FYIs
Manchester City starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Kickoff: Saturday, Aug 31, City of Manchester Stadium, 3pm
Google Result Probability: City win 89%, Draw 8%, Brighton & Hove Albion win 3%
Odds via Betway: Manchester City win 1/11 Draw 10/1, Brighton & Hove Albion win 28/1
Prediction: Manchester City 4, Brighton & Hove Albion 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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