After an impressive opening win of the new English Premier League season, Manchester City will want to continue the good form when they travel to newly-promoted Cardiff City.
Cardiff crashed to a 2-0 defeat to West Ham on the opening weekend and will be equally desperate for a good performance in front of their home crowd on their return to the top flight.
"We will not underestimate them because they are new to the division," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. "They will be very tough opponents on their own pitch. We know we have to play at our best to take three points but we will be focused and prepared for the challenge."
City will be without captain Vincent Kompany, who has been ruled out for a month, but Matija Nastasic could return, while Stevan Jovetic is a slight doubt.
"It is a blow to lose our captain so early in the season but there is nothing we can do about it." Pellegrini added.
"He is a very important player for us and our captain but we are hopeful Matija Nastasic could be available for Cardiff. It is too early to say but we will see.
"Micah Richards is also improving and he could be available for next weekend, but again, we will wait and see how he progresses. I'm aware of course that Micah can also play in central defence so we have options while Vincent is recovering."
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay called for the home crowd to get behind them against City. "We've got to make sure that any team that comes down to our stadium knows it's going to be a tough ask for them," Mackay said. "I don't doubt the support our fans will give us this season and the ferocity of their support and passion for our club.
"I'm very proud of the fact that we've got the Barclays Premier League kicking off in our home stadium and for everyone at Cardiff and associated with the club. We're very proud that we're here and I've got no doubt that our fans will be passionate and supportive of everything we do this season.
"The way our stadium is will lend itself to noise like it did last season. We've got top, top teams coming to play us this season and it'll be a real test for us but we're relishing that challenge."
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Expected lineups: Cardiff: Marshall; Connolly, Caulker, Turner, Taylor; Bellamy, Medel, Kim, Gunnarsson, Whittingham; Campbell.
Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Nastasic, Lescott, Clichy; Toure, Fernandinho; Navas, Aguero, Silva; Dzeko.
Prediction: 2-0 to City
