Key events
This is correct. Important to clarify.
@michaelbutler18 Online sources seem to think that Savio belongs to Troyes but is on loan at Girona; Of course, Troyes is also a City club.
— iucounu (@iucounu) February 5, 2024
Brentford was one of the four teams beat city of manchester in the Premier League last season, and the only team to achieve the double over them. Kyle Walker is on the pitch in west London talking about those City defeats.
The game they beat us at home, which was just before the World Cup, was a strange result. And when they beat us here (at the Gtech Community Stadium), it was right before the Champions League final. It is not a reference for tonight's game.
Remember, Girona is one of 13 football clubs in the 'City Football Group', so the deal is largely internal. You can learn more about the group here…
…and Sid Lowe wrote about Girona in November.
Manchester City reaches an agreement to sign Girona Sávio
Breaking News: A city-based transfer update for you. Sávio has been nothing short of sensational this season for Girona, who sit second in La Liga. Nobody has more assists in the Spanish League, and also heads the list of successful dribbles, ahead of Isco, Rodrygo, Vini Jr, etc.
🚨🔵🇧🇷 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City reach an agreement to sign Sávio from parent club Girona in the summer.
Documents to be signed in the coming days.
Despite offers from German and English clubs, Sávio will join #MCFC.
Now he is focused 100% on Girona to finish the season in the best way. pic.twitter.com/oCDNy5d6Eo
—Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 5, 2024
This is interesting. Not only because Sky's expert substitute Michail Antonio wears a beret, but also because Tottenham's Micky van de Ven has been ranked the fastest footballer in the world. first division this season. Anyone who watched some of his comeback spells in the 2-2 draw with Everton at the weekend won't be surprised by that statistic, simply edging out Luton's Chiedozie Ogbene (who also smashed Newcastle's Dan Burn on Saturday on the wing right). However, there are a couple of surprising names. Antonio is ranked 41st, although the Jamaican international has not been in top form this season.
I'm not sure if this is a positive sign. or a reminder of Haaland's dominance since arriving at the first division Just 18 months ago:
Brentford are the only one of the 21 Premier League teams that Haaland has faced but has not scored.
The teams
De Bruyne and Haaland start for City, making it Guardiola's strongest lineup since the pair were last in City's starting eleven on August 11, 2023 at Burnley (a 3-0 win in Burnley in which Haaland scored two goals). . It was also the game in which De Bruyne suffered the injury that kept him out until January.
Brentford: Flekken, Collins, Pinnock, Mee, Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Reguilon, Toney, Maupay.
Substitutes: Jorgensen, Ajer, Strakosha, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Baptiste, Yarmolyuk, Brierley, Fredrick.
City of Manchester: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodri, Foden, Álvarez, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Haaland.
Substitutes: Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Doku, Ortega, Akanji, Matheus Luiz, Bobb, Lewis.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia)
Preamble
With the January transfer window closing, February's Champions League qualifiers and a title race reaching its peak, it looks like we've almost entered the Business End™ of the season.
Liverpool's defeat against Arsenal Sunday looks like something of a turning point, a result that has ramifications for all three title contenders, with some football nerds and stats gurus estimating that the Gunners' 3-1 win at the Emirates actually contributed more to City's chances of winning the Premier League trophy. than what he did with Arsenal.
Of course, all those permutations and predictions only mean anything if City do what they are expected to do. Which, of course, is to continue winning many football games, starting with tonight at Brentford.
Pep Guardiola's side are already on a good run, winning 10 of their last 11 in all competitions, and have a couple of folkloric blessed lads back from injuries, so one would imagine they'll be fine under Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland back. in the starting XI against a Brentford team that has lost eight (and won just two) of its last 12.
But of course, this is a football match, not an artificial intelligence algorithm. Almost anything could happen. And most of us are here to find out if something unexpected happens.
Kick off: 20:00 GMT.
