Our prediction for this Premier League match:
Southampton and Man City face each other at St. Mary’s Stadium in the closing match of Saturday’s program. The Saints are stuck at the bottom with only 23 points in their pockets, and, as a result, the bookies see them as big underdogs in this clash. Ainsley Maitland-Niles is widely expected to return to the starting XI, whilst all Armel Bella-Kotchap, Juan Larios, and Tino Livramento remain in the recovery room.
The Citizens, on the other hand, are eyeing their fifth consecutive league win, and seeing that Erling Haaland has overcome his injury, we are tempted to put our money on the title-chasing visitors. Earlier this year Southampton eliminated Man City in the EFL Cup quarter-finals, meaning that Pep Guardiola’s troops are hungry for revenge. Midfielder Phil Foden (abdominal injury) should be the only absentee in the visiting team, while Portugal ace Bernardo Silva should be recalled to the starting line-up.
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 (Southampton):
Southampton are an English football club that have been playing their home games at St Mary's Stadium since 2001. The Saints were based at The Dell in the past and the capacity of Southampton’s new stadium is 32,505. Southampton wear red and white striped shirts and the colour of the team’s away kit is navy and green.
The Saints have yet to win the Premier League trophy, but they did well to clinch the FA Cup title back in 1976, while participating in the final of the prestigious competition in 1900, 1902 and 2003. Southampton outplayed Manchester United in the 1976 FA Cup final and that is probably the club’s greatest victory ever.
The club are well known for their football academy and Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale is one of the players who began their football carrier at the St. Mary’s Stadium outfit. Southampton’s fiercest rivals are Portsmouth and the two teams square off against each other in the South Coast Derby.