Sunday 15th May 2016 Kickoff 1500hrs
Swansea City v Manchester City
Football – Premier League – England
Following Manchester United’s late capitulation away to West Ham on Tuesday, qualification for next season’s Champions League is back in the hands of the other half of Manchester. City know that a win on the final day of the season away to Swansea would guarantee them fourth spot and ensure they have the opportunity of playing in Europe’s elite competition under their new manager Pep Guardiola. Swansea have achieved their aim of survival, very comfortably in the end, but they showed in their performance at Upton Park last weekend that they’re still very much a difficult opponent.
It’s been a strange old season for Swansea considering they finished in eighth spot last term. The first half of the campaign was a real struggle and seen them lurk dangerously close to the relegation zone and eventually cost Garry Monk his job. Three wins in their first 15 league matches was enough for the board to act and the man who was brought into replace Monk – Francesco Guidolin – was not an overwhelmingly popular choice but he has overseen a fair bit of improvement, guiding them to 11th spot and with an outside chance of another top 10 finish. His success has been rewarded this week with the decision to give the Italian a two-year contract – putting an end to speculation that Brendan Rodgers was set for a return to the Welsh club. Guidolin was also linked with a move to Watford during the close season so this week’s news will come as reassurance to the Swansea support that the club can start to build ahead of the new campaign.
No matter what happens on Sunday at the Liberty Stadium, one thing is for certain, this will be the last time than the popular Manuel Pellegrini will take charge of Manchester City. The Chilean arrived at the Etihad back in the summer of 2013 and proceeded to win the title in his first season in charge. That remains the only Premier League medal on his CV, as well as adding two League Cup, but it has not affected how well-liked he is amongst the City support. Of course, this season has also witnessed Pellegrini leading the club to the last four of the Champions League – narrowly losing to Real Madrid. His last task is finding a way to secure fourth spot, something that they have continually tried to make difficult for themselves this term. Last weekend’s draw at home to Arsenal – coupled with a heavy defeat to Southampton the week before – looked to have handed the advantage to United before their own defeat this midweek. Providing the blue half of Manchester can better their neighbour’s result then there is no way that they can be overtaken, but in this season that has been full of shocks there is nothing that can be taken for granted – particularly when this City team are involved.
Swansea are attempting to do something that they have not managed in over a year, and that’s win three straight games. A 3-1 win at home to Liverpool was followed with that impressive 4-1 showing away to West Ham last week and both performances and result will give them great hope for not only this weekend, but what lies ahead in 2016/17. The wins are made that more surprising as they came on the back of two lifeless performances against Newcastle and Leicester City, losing 3-0 and 4-0 respectively. At that point it appeared as though the Swansea players were already on their summer holidays but to their credit the response has been emphatic. The visit of Man City will of course be another test for the team but they’re now a team full of confidence and seemingly playing with a freedom that makes them even more dangerous.
One man who will not be making the journey to Wales on Sunday is club captain Vincent Kompany who has suffered yet another long-term injury that has also ruled him out of Belgium’s Euro 2016 plans. His absence has been a constant problem for them throughout this campaign, and whilst it’s unlikely that a fully fit Kompany could have seen them win the title, his influence and leadership would most certainly have them higher up the table. It’s not a great endorsement of a lot of the other players in the City squad who have been unable to shoulder that same type of responsibility and it will be something that Guardiola will have to rectify when he arrives in the summer. Every successful team needs more than one leader but they are few and far between at City currently.
Swansea City v Manchester City Betting Tips
It goes without saying that Manchester City would much prefer that they would be playing for the Premier League title on Sunday rather than the fourth place they are actually playing for. However, due to their inconsistencies that have blighted them all season, fourth is the best they can hope for. It would have been unthinkable at the start of the campaign that City would miss out on Champions League football and if it was not for West Ham’s heroics on Tuesday then that would have been very probable. You would expect United to take all three points at home to Bournemouth on Sunday so City simply have to win and look after themselves. It won’t be easy, however, as they’re facing a Swansea team who have won their last four at home – including against Chelsea and Liverpool.
The last five meetings between these two clubs have all seen three or more goals scored in them and that’s going to be the selection in this one. Swansea have found their scoring boots of late and five of their last six would have seen this bet a winner. Over 2.5 goals would also have been a safe selection in six of City’s last seven league games. Swansea are more than good enough to trouble the visitors, particularly with Kompany ruled out, and it should pave the way for an open match with plenty of chances.
Over 2.5 goals 8/15 @ Skybet
