Southampton – Manchester City Prediction & Picks (13.05.2018)

Southampton and Manchester City meet at St. Mary’s Stadium, in a match for the 38th round of the Premier League. In the last direct confrontation for this edition of the league, on 11-29-2017, Manchester City won at home against (2-1). The record of direct confrontations in this stadium is favorable to the visiting team, which in the last 4 matches won 2, drew 1 and lost 1. Indeed, the last time these two teams met in this stadium was on 04-04-2017 , in a match for the Premier League that ended with the victory of Manchester City by (0-3). V. Kompany (55 ‘), L. Sané (77’) and S. Aguero (80 ‘) scored the match goals for Manchester City. Attention to the home factor, since the Southampton usually conquer different results at home and abroad.

Southampton:

The home team is currently in the 17 th position, with 36 points won, after 7 wins, 15 draws and 15 losses. In the penultimate match, they tied in an away match against Everton, by (1-1). In the last match, they won in an away match against Swansea City, by (0-1). This is a team that, oddly enough, has had better results in away matches than at home, since in the last 30 matches they register 5 wins, 5 draws and 5 losses in away matches; against 4 wins, 6 draws and 5 losses at their stadium. In the last 10 home league matches Southampton has a record of 1 win, 5 draws and 4 losses, so they have won 8 points out of 30 possible. Defensive consistency has not been their best feature, as they have conceded goals in 7 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 37 matches in this competition, they only won 1 comeback in the 17 matches in which they suffered the first goal.

The Southampton enters this day motivated, after a triumph stranger, by 0-1, in the visit to the land of Swansea: Gabbiadini, at minute 72 ‘, marked the only goal of the game. The team of the house usually acts in a tactical system in 5-2-3, favoring a style of game more rapid and of constant transitions. In this tactical drawing, the three players responsible for throwing the panic into the opposing defense are Redmond, Austin and Tadic. Coach Mark Hughes should not be able to count on Steven Davis, for being injured.

Manchester City:

After 31 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses, the away team is currently in the 1 st position, with 97 points won. In the penultimate match, they tied in a home match against Huddersfield Town, by (0-0). In the last match, they won in a home match against Brighton & Hove Albion, by (3-1). This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 10 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses in away matches, with 32 goals scored and 14 conceded; against 11 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses at their stadium, with 41 goals scored and 14 conceded. For the league, Manchester City won 23 points out of 30 possible points, after 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in the last 10 home matches. Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches for this competition. This is a team that does not usually feel difficult to open the scoring: it marked the first goal in 30 of the last 37 games for the Premier League, of these 30 they reached the break in advantage in 24 and managed to maintain the advantage until the end of the 90 ‘in 28. In 37 matches in this competition, he suffered the first goal 5 times, but got the comeback in 3.

Manchester City enter this motivated action, after a home victory, by 3-1, at the reception at Brighton: Danilo, Bernardo Silva and Fernandinho scored the goals of the triumph. Unlike the rival of this round, the visiting club usually acts in a 4-3-3, in which the three players responsible for throwing the panic in the defensive opponent are Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva and Sané. Thus, despite being outside the home, it is clear that Manchester City adopts a more offensive stance, taking into account that it presents more individual and collective quality. For this duel the foreign technician will not be able to count on Agüero, for being injured.