Not a happy hunting ground for either City or Roberto Mancini and there is of course the trip to Madrid looming large on the horizon.
Grab a coffee, kick back and check out the best links ahead of the game:
- sufferingbruin previews today's game. [Bitter and Blue]
- @analyseFooty uses the MCFC Analytics data to look back at City v Stoke from last season. [analyseFooty]
- shuddertothink took a look at Stoke's high scoring % and lower than expected shots against from last season. [Bitter and Blue]
- The EDS chalked up their first NextGen series win, beating Fenerbahce 3-1. [mcfc.co.uk]
- The full announcement of the proposed City Academy. [mcfc.co.uk]
- Typical City assesses the career of Nigel de Jong. [Typical City]
- Carlos Tevez is hungry for more trophies to repay the fans. [MEN]
- And finally, a look at what is happening to the site that housed the former stadium, Maine Road. [mcfc.co.uk]