Manchester City will be aiming to put their Champions League disappointment behind them when they return to Premier League action on Saturday against Cardiff City.
Pep Guardiola's side suffered a shock 2-1 loss at home to Lyon on their first continental outing of the season, with the Catalan coach watching on feebly from the stands due to a touchline ban.
An appropriate response will be expected from the champions when they take to the field in Wales against a team that has yet to win a game in any competition this season thus far.
Cardiff come into the match having claimed just two points from their opening five league matches and they have conceded 10 goals in their last three outings, with Chelsea trouncing them 4-1 last week.
| Game | Cardiff City vs Manchester City |
| Date | Saturday, September 22 |
| Time | 3pm BST / 10am ET |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US) the game will be available to watch live on television through CNBC and it can be streamed live online using NBC Sports Live.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| CNBC | NBC Sports Live / Telemundo Deportes En Vivo |
The game cannot be watched live on television in the United Kingdom (UK), nor can it be streamed live online, due to the '3pm blackout' period. It can, however, be followed live with Goal by clicking here.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| N/A | N/A |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Cardiff City squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Etheridge, Smithies, Murphy |
| Defenders | Peltier, Bennett, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Richards, Paterson, Connolly, Cunningham, Bamba |
| Midfielders | Arter, Ralls, Murphy, Reid, Gunnarsson, Damour, Camarasa, Harris |
| Forwards | Ward, Zohore, Mendez-Laing, Madine, Hoilett |
Republic of Ireland international Harry Arter has overcome illness to feature, but Josh Murphy is only available to start on the bench.
Cardiff City XI: Etheridge; Peltier, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Cunningham; Camarasa, Arter, Ralls, Hoilett; Decordova-Reid; Ward
SUBS: Murphy, Bennett, Richards, Zohore, Murphy, Paterson, Bamba
| Position | Man City squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ederson, Grimshaw, Bravo, Muric |
| Defenders | Walker, Danilo, Stones, Laporte, Kompany, Mendy, Otamendi, Mangala, Sandler |
| Midfielders | Gundogan, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, D. Silva, B. Silva, Delph, Sane, Sterling, Mahrez, Zinchenko, Diaz |
| Forwards | Aguero, Jesus |
David Silva has dropped to the bench for Manchester City's clash with Cardiff City on Saturday.
The Spanish midfielder is rested after playing the full 90 minutes in his side's 2-1 defeat to Lyon in the Champions League in midweek.
Sergio Aguero, meanwhile, starts after signing a new contract at the club.
Fernandinho captains the side, with Ilkay Gundogan drafted in to replace Silva.
Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Laporte, Otamendi, Delph, Gundogan, Fernandinho (C), Bernardo, Sane, Sterling, Aguero
SUBS: Muric, Kompany, Stones, Silva, Mahrez, Jesus, Foden
Betting & Match Odds
Man City are undeniable favourites to win the game according to bet365, who price them at 1/6. Cardiff, meanwhile, are rated a massive 22/1 to triumph and a draw is available at 7/1.
Match Preview
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The absence of Guardiola from the sideline was suggested as a possible reason for Man City's surprise defeat to Lyon during the week, but stand-in coach Mikel Arteta wisely refused to entertain the notion.
"I have no idea. The reality is Pep wasn't here and we lost the game," Arteta told reporters in the aftermath. "If Pep would have been on the touchline I can't tell you if we’d have won 5-0 or lost."
Guardiola will return to his normal position for the game on Saturday against Cardiff, meaning no such excuse will be available should the players fail to live up to expectations with a win.
City will hope that the news of Sergio Aguero's new contract extension will inspire the Argentine to rediscover his goalscoring form after his failure to score in his previous three appearances.
A drastic improvement is required across the team if they are to keep up with the likes of Jurgen Klopp's high-flying Liverpool and Maurizio Sarri's resurgent Chelsea.
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