Match Preview: City vs Southampton

The 38th week of the season sees Manchester City hosting Southampton in what many are calling one of the more quiet endings in recent memory with no cups or titles to play for City look to end the season as successfully as possible in what seems to be the calm before the summer storm, no position is secure, and oddly this is the best the squad have played all year.

The match is what likely is to be Frank Lampard's final Premiere League showing, also what is likely to be Yaya Toure's final match for the club, this could be the last time we see quite a few players in sky blue, but also the first time we see some players in the first team (hopefully). The shadow casted by doubt, overbearing agents, MLS franchises and Serie A sides looms over The Etihad, but expect for those proverbial clouds to be gone for ninety minutes.

If you recall the first tie between the two sides this season, City handed Saints their first loss at St. Mary's, and even through Mangala's sending off, they managed to win easily against Southampton. Sadio Mane, who recorded an amazing hat trick last week hasn't scored in consecutive matches since January as the visitors look to end a trend of three losses away to City.

Sergio Aguero has to be the story of the season as he looks to secure his Golden Boot for Manchester City, the Argentinian has credited a new dieting regimen to his durability this campaign. Aguero has only managed to be subbed off twelve times this year, which is a record low for him. Kun has been stellar for the squad this year as he's scored 25 goals and eight assists in 32 league matches this season. Aguero seems to have found his happy place at the Etihad, and he has been a model of consistency for a club that has been at times a symbol of inconsistency.

Pellegrini states that City are only without Samir Nasri and Fernando. Saints are going to be playing without the services of Morgan Schneiderlin and Dusan Dadic, and while Jay Rodriguez has progressed after an ACL injury that kept him out of action for a year, Saints manager Ronald and With Mike Jones refereeing the match, certainly Sergio Aguero looks to get more calls his way.

The 2014/2015 season has been a rollercoaster ride. But considering where we've been, a fourth consecutive year with a top two finish has to leave the blue side of Manchester beaming with pride.