A difficult start to the season in the Championship
Manchester City have had a complicated start to the Premier League season.
Currently 13th with one game less, the second in the Championship in 2019-2020 is struggling to launch his new season.
After winning Wolverhampton (1-3) in their first game, City sank at home against Leicester (2-5).
Pep Guardiola's men then drew at Leeds (1-1) before dominating Arsenal (1-0) at home.
Last Saturday, the Sky Blues were held in check at West Ham (1-1).
Assessment: 8 points out of 15 possible.
Far from sufficient for a title contender.
These Mancuniens are therefore not at their best level and seem to be taken.
A less flamboyant attack and a struggling defense
This Man City is not intractable like the previous season.
The Mancunian steamroller is not yet in motion.
The team, which scored 102 league goals and won 26 out of 38 games last season, no longer has the same efficiency in front of goal.
To compare, the last five matches of the Premier League 2019-2020 had ended in 5 successes with 21 goals and only one goal conceded.
This season, City are much less inspired as they have won only 2 times and scored only 8 goals in 5 games.
The game played is less attractive and the defense is always more vulnerable.
Indeed, Guardiola's Manchester City have already conceded 8 goals in the Championship.
Far from being solid, the central Dias-Garcia hinge is still struggling to convince.
The defense is particularly in difficulty on deep passes or when playing behind his back.
What leave the possibility to Marseillais to find the fault.
We can count on the Olympian coach André Villas-Boas, who has all his staff, to set a trap for the Citizens.
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City's poor record against French clubs
On the European scene, Manchester City encounters many concerns to win against its French opponents.
On Matchday 4 of the 2008-2009 UEFA Cup group stage, the Sky Blues conceded a draw (0-0) at home against Paris Saint-Germain.
The two teams then meet in the quarter-finals of the 2016 Champions League. After a 2-2 at the Parc des Princes, City won 1-0 on the return thanks to Kevin de Bruyne's winning goal at the Etihad Stadium.
The following edition (2017), the Mancunian club fell against AS Monaco in the round of 16 of C1.
Man City won the first leg 5-3 at home before losing 3-1 at Monaco.
The double confrontation against Lyon in the group stage of the C1 2018-2019 is not going well either.
OL managed to surprise City in England with a 1-2 victory.
The return match at Groupama Stadium in Lyon ended with a 2-2.
Finally, the recent 2020 quarter-final in Lisbon (August 15) is still painful for the Citizens who were eliminated by Lyon (1-3).
In 8 confrontations against French clubs, Manchester City has 2 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats.
Finally, City have never won in France.
This bodes well for OM who are facing Guardiola's team for the first time.
Many injured and a heavy schedule
If City are not at the top, it is also because many players are in the infirmary.
Center-back Nathan Aké has a groin injury, striker Gabriel Jesus and French left-back Benjamin Mendy suffer from a muscle injury.
Fernandinho is absent for at least a month following his right thigh injury during the victory against Porto last Wednesday (3-1) as part of the 1st day of C1.
The formidable center-forward Sergio Aguero, hit in a thigh last Saturday, is uncertain about the trip to Marseille.
The "final 8" in the Champions League in Lisbon at the end of August caused damage.
Especially since the new season started soon after and the meetings have accumulated.
The schedule is very heavy (often with 3 posters per week) and the actors are therefore more likely to be injured.
On the other hand, Guardiola can count on his playing master Kevin de Bruyne, who has made his return to West Ham.
After their failed return to the Champions League with the defeat at the end of the match on the lawn of Olympiakos (1-0), OM must react to the strongest opponent in the pool if they want hope to appear well in his group.
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