Man City seek to avoid Carabao Cup upset against Swansea | OneFootball

Manchester City will look to recover from their Premier League setback when they travel to face Swansea City in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.

Pep Guardiola’s side saw their recent improvement halted by a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend, a result that left them frustrated after signs of progress in recent weeks.

They will now aim to respond swiftly in the cup, a competition they have won eight times, most recently in 2021.

City have already seen off Huddersfield Town in the third round, but Swansea are expected to pose a sterner test. The Welsh club have shown impressive resilience in the EFL Cup so far, knocking out Crawley Town, Plymouth Argyle, and Nottingham Forest to reach this stage.

Alan Sheehan’s men also come into this fixture on the back of a much-needed 2-1 victory over Norwich City in the Championship, their first win in nearly a month. That result lifted them to 13th in the table and restored some belief after a difficult run of form.

Swansea will now see this as an opportunity to make a statement. They famously lifted the trophy in 2013, and a victory against Manchester City would not only secure a quarter-final place but also serve as one of their biggest results in recent years.

Guardiola’s side, meanwhile, will be wary of complacency. They have been dominant in previous meetings with Swansea, winning seven consecutive encounters since 2012, but this fixture arrives at a moment when City’s rhythm remains fragile.

The defeat to Villa was their second time dropping points in five matches, with Matty Cash’s early strike proving decisive. Erling Haaland went close to rescuing a draw, but City’s finishing lacked precision as they struggled to break down Unai Emery’s organised side.

Rotation is expected from Guardiola, with fringe players like Rico Lewis, Jack Grealish, and Stefan Ortega likely to feature. However, the Spaniard will still demand a strong response, knowing another setback could disrupt momentum across competitions.

Swansea, on the other hand, will look to harness their underdog spirit and use the home crowd to unsettle their visitors.Their recent cup form has shown tactical discipline and sharp counter-attacking play — qualities that could trouble a rotated City side.

For Manchester City, the task is simple: regain focus and avoid an upset. But against a revitalised Swansea City side seeking another memorable cup night, nothing can be taken for granted.