Our prediction for this Premier League match:
Etihad Stadium will host Saturday’s Premier League game between Manchester City and Fulham, the two teams with entirely different ambitions for the remainder of the season. The Citizens aim to defend their trophy, while Fulham’s main goal is to secure the elite division survival. Pep Guardiola should count on key attacker Erling Haaland this time out, while all Palmer, Phillips, and Walker miss out with injuries.
The Cottagers, on the other hand, aim to extend their unbeaten run to five games, but Man City will pose a much bigger threat for the capital club than their previous rivals. David faces Goliath at Etihad Stadium, meaning that anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. As for the away team, both Kurzawa and Solomon are sidelined with injuries, while Bobby De Cordova-Reid is banned for the match due to accumulation of yellow cards.
Highlighted Player (Ilkay Gundogan):
Ilkay Gundogan is a German footballer of Turkish origin who made a name for himself playing for Borussia Dortmund. The skilful midfielder began his professional career at VFL Bochum, but it was at Nurnberg that he was given the opportunity to prove his undoubted potential. He needed just two years to make Germany’s top clubs stand up and take notice and the Millionaires secured his signature for mere €4 million.
That would prove to be a great investment as Gundogan quickly slotted straight into the starting line-up and became a playmaker in the side led by Jurgen Klopp and later Thomas Tuchel. The midfield maestro kept being linked with clubs like Manchester United, Barcelona and Arsenal, but he resisted temptation to leave Borussia Dortmund, winning one Bundesliga trophy with the club and making it to the Champions League final.
Gundogan unfortunately missed the 2014 World Cup finals through injury, but there is still time for the BVB star to make things right and lift a major international trophy with Germany.
Highlighted Team (Fulham):
Fulham are a club from London that play in the Premier League. The capital club dropped to the English second tier at the end of the 2013/2014 Premier League campaign after failing to impress in the elite competition, but managed to return in season 2018/2019.
Fulham were founded in 1879 and they play their home matches at Craven Cottage. Fulham are the oldest-established club from the English capital to have played in the top flight.
Fulham finished the 2008/2009 Premier League campaign in seventh place in the standings and that is considered the team’s biggest success, speaking of their participation in the Premier League.
The Cottagers played in the Europa League twice and they did well to reach the FA Cup final in 1975, but they were beaten by their local rivals West Ham United in the title game (0-2). Chelsea are regarded as Fulham’s bitter rivals as well and the two teams take on each other in the North London derby.