Bristol City aim for "sensational" FA Cup shock versus Manchester City
Robins manager Nigel Pearson says his players will have to be at their very best to win
The club football side many consider to be the best in the world will be in the West Country tonight, (February 28) as Bristol City host Manchester City in the FA Cup.
The match in the fifth round of the competition will kick off at 8pm at Ashton Gate and will be broadcast live on TV.
If Bristol City win, they will reach the sixth round for the first time in 49 years.
The stats
Despite playing away from home, Manchester City are the heavy favourites to win the game.
The blues have won six of the last 10 Premier League titles including the last two in a row.
They have also won six League Cup titles since 2014, they won the FA Cup in 2019 and reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2021, falling at the final hurdle to Premier League rivals Chelsea.
This season Man City sit second in the Premier League table, three points behind leaders Arsenal.
Bristol City meanwhile, play a league below Man City in the Championship, where they are currently 13th.
The Robins last made it to the fifth round of the FA Cup in 2021, but they have not made it past this stage since 1974, when they were eventually beaten by Liverpool in the 6th round.
Bristol City are in good form though and are unbeaten in 12 games across all competitions.
They last tasted defeat on Boxing Day, when they were beaten 0-2 at home by West Bromwich Albion.
Unlike Man City, Bristol City have never won the FA Cup, but they did reach the final 114 years ago, in the 1908/09 season.
The players
Manchester City have one of the most talented squads ever assembled, so facing them tonight will be a daunting task for Bristol City.
Last year Manchester City's became the first ever to be valued at more than £1 billion and they're currently fronted by Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, who is considered one of the world's best players.
With several months left in the season, the 25-year-old has already netted 27 Premier League goals, the most ever for a Man City striker.
They also have FIFA World Cup winner Julian Alvarez, Algerian Riyad Mahrez (who was signed by now Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson for Leicester City in 2014) and Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, who currently leads the Premier League for the number of assists this season, with 12.
Bristol City in contrast, have a collective squad value of under £26 million, according to football website transfermarkt and are fronted by 32-year-old Bermudan forward Nahki Wells.
Wells is the Robins' top scorer in the Championship this season with 11 goals.
He also holds the most assists in the side this campaign, with six.
The build up
Bristol City manager Pearson, knowing his side are big underdogs, tried to play down the significance of the game in his pre match press conference.
"The league will always remain our biggest priority," he said.
"We've worked hard to steady our season and make some progressions in terms of our league position, but of course the cup games have been an integral part of that run too."
He's called the FA Cup run "important" in Bristol City's upturn of form since Christmas, but says his side will have to be at its best to continue into the quarter finals.
"They (Manchester City) are one of the best sides in the world, so there's no point worrying too much about that," Pearson said.
"We've just got to be as good as we can be.
"We've got to be the best version of ourselves that we can be, and we've got to play very, very well."
Pearson agreed it would be "sensational" if his side pulled off an FA Cup shock.
For Manchester City, Pep Guardiola says his side will take the game very seriously, describing it as a "final".
"My scouts say it (Bristol City) is a good team," he said.
"The manager (Pearson) has a lot of experience...
"(The) FA Cup is an important competition, really, really important so (a) serious team is going to play..."
Last time the two sides met was in the semi finals of the 2018 Carabao Cup, which Manchester City won 5-3 on aggregate.
Tonight's game will kick off at 8pm.