SK Slovan Bratislava vs Manchester City (UEFA Champions League): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How To Watch | OneFootball

Manchester City travel to Slovakia this week to take on SK Slovan Bratislava on matchday two of the league phase in the UEFA Champions League this season.

It has been a mixed run of form for Pep Guardiola’s side as of late, with players and the coach himself not reading too much into the dropped points in Europe and the Premier League, referring towards the stern challenges that have been set against them.

Three draws from their last four matches in all competitions have naturally left some wondering how Manchester City will cope long-term without Rodri, however within the club they remain insistent on draws against Inter, Arsenal, and Newcastle not being bad results.

In that time, there have been increases in the performances of Jack Grealish in particular, whilst Rico Lewis has showcased how he will continue to be important for the club at a time when more solutions are required in the centre of the park.

Those performances came to the fore against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday lunchtime, as Manchester City’s opener via Josko Gvardiol was cancelled out by Anthony Gordon’s second-half penalty to hand out a point to each side.

It was goals galore for Slovan Bratislava in their last competitive outing, emerging as 2-4 victors on the road at Michalovce in the Slovak Super Liga, with goals from Tigran Barseghyan, a David Strelec brace, and Zuberu Sharani.

Last time out in the UEFA Champions League, Slovan Bratislava were handed a baptism of fire against Scottish Premier League giants Celtic, as the Glasgow-based side strolled to a 5-1 win at Celtic Park earlier this month.

As Manchester City go in search of their first three points in the UEFA Champions League this season, here is everything you need to know ahead of the encounter at Tehelné pole!

Match Details

SK Slovan Bratislava against Manchester City has been scheduled for Tuesday 1 October with a kick-off time of 20:00 (UK) at Tehelné pole.

Match Officials

An all-Italian team of match officials led by on-field referee Davide Massa will oversee proceedings in Slovakia on Tuesday night.

You can find the full list of match officials on cityxtra.co.uk!

Team News

Manchester City’s list of absentees will remain unchanged from those that missed the 1-1 draw at Newcastle United on Saturday lunchtime, whilst Erling Haaland has travelled with the group to Slovakia despite concerns over a few knocks sustained at St James’ Park.

As such, Manchester City will be without Nathan Ake (muscular), Rodri (ACL & meniscus), Kevin De Bruyne (groin), and Oscar Bobb (leg bone fracture) for the clash against SK Slovan Bratislava.

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have named a 19-man travelling squad for their trip to face Vladimir Weiss’ side in Slovakia this week. You can find the full squad list below!

Head To Head

SK Slovan Bratislava and Manchester City have never met in any competition in their respective histories prior to this week’s UEFA Champions League matchday two league phase match-up.

Statistics

This will be the first meeting in major European competition between Slovan Bratislava and Manchester City. The hosts have won just two of their 12 matches against English opposition (D2, L8), losing all of their last five in a row.

This is Manchester City’s first ever meeting with Slovakian opposition, with Slovakia becoming the 27th different nation that City have faced a club from in major European competition.

This is Slovan Bratislava’s first ever home match in the UEFA Champions League. The Slovakian outfit however did win all six of their European Cup home matches, with their last ever such match coming against English opposition – a 1-0 win against Derby County in September 1975.

Manchester City are unbeaten in each of their last 11 UEFA Champions League away matches (W5, D6), winning four of their last five such matches (D1). Indeed, this is already their longest ever unbeaten run on the road in the competition.

Should Manchester City win or draw this match, they will equal the longest unbeaten run in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history, currently held by Manchester United (25 games between September 2007 and May 2009). Pep Guardiola’s side have won 16 and drawn eight of their last 24 matches in the Champions League.

How To Watch

Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch SK Slovan Bratislava against Manchester City live on TNT Sports 1.

Those in the United States can watch the contest live on Paramount+.

You can find full global TV listings for the matchday two encounter in the UEFA Champions League HERE!

City Xtra will have full live coverage available on our X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram channels throughout matchday, with content also provided on cityxtra.co.uk and YouTube!