Zabaleta: Manchester derby like Argentina against Brazil

The Manchester City right-back knows exactly what the fixture means for the club's fans and the people in the city and has promised to give 100 percent.

Pablo Zabaleta says the Manchester derby is the biggest game in England, comparing it to the rivalry between Argentina and Brazil.

The Manchester City right-back is expected to start at Old Trafford on Sunday as Manuel Pellegrini’s table toppers look to extend their two point lead over their neighbours in the Premier League.

However, there's more than just points at stake when City and United meet and Zabaleta says he knows what this fixture means for the club’s fans.

“This is the biggest game for sure in England,” he said. “We know how important it is for the fans, for the club and also because we play against a team that is joint-second in the league, two points behind.

"Both teams play for something important, not just pride, something really big.

“They have a chance to beat us and go top of the league and we have a chance to extend the gap. Hopefully we can do it.

“It's like Argentina-Brazil. When you play against a team that you know is a rival and everyone wants you to beat — we know how important the game is in the whole city.”

Louis van Gaal’s side won 4-2 when the two sides last met in April, a result which Zabaleta admits hurt a lot.

But the Argentina international does not want to dwell on that loss and is completely focused on winning this weekend’s encounter.

“It was a very hard defeat, because in the way we played the game it wasn't good,” the 30-year-old continued.

“You expect to play much better than that with the players we have in the team.

“But we don't think about revenge. We have had the chance to win more games at Old Trafford. I remember playing pretty well there and winning 6-1, 3-0.

“Sometimes you don't expect to lose like we did last season there. It was really hurtful for everyone, but hopefully we will try to make sure it does not happen again - and we can win.

"You have to play those games with 100 per cent attitude and passion because it means a lot for the fans. That's what we will try to do."

Aston Villa v Manchester City: Fernando predicts vibrant Villa under Garde

Remi Garde's first game in charge of rock-bottom Aston Villa must not catch Manchester City off guard, says holding midfielder Fernando.

Manchester City midfielder Fernando expects to face a fired-up Aston Villa when Remi Garde takes charge of the Premier League's bottom side for the first time. 

Leaders City enter the Villa Park clash in high spirits having extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches with an emphatic 3-1 Champions League win over Sevilla on Tuesday. 

Fernando, who struggled during his debut season with Manuel Pellegrini's squad but has found his feet this time around, was a key factor in the victory with a dominant display in the midfield holding role. 

The Brazilian believes similar application will be required against lowly Villa, who remain winless in the league since their 1-0 opening-day triumph at AFC Bournemouth. 

"Every game in the Premier League is a tough one," Fernando told City's official website. 

"Although Aston Villa are at the bottom of the table, we know they are a team that play hard and are capable of playing very well. They are aggressive, they have a new manager, but we have to be focused in order to earn another three points. 

"Based on the players they have, we know it will be a hard match and I am sure they will cause us problems, but we are aiming to play the way we know we can and win the game." 

Villa boast a significant ex-City contingent, with Micah Richards back from suspension and pushing for a start alongside Joleon Lescott and Scott Sinclair. 

"They are great players with a lot of experience and they are doing their best to help their team," Fernando added. "We will catch up with them after the game, but we are going to Villa Park for the win." 

Sinclair endured three fruitless seasons on City's books, when he started two Premier League games and was loaned out to West Brom and Villa. 

Having made his Villa Park switch permanent, Sinclair warned his team-mates of the ample quality in City's ranks. 

"It's going to be difficult because Man City are packed with world-class players," he told Villa's official website.

"We know we'll need to be at our very best against them but we are going into the game feeling positive. 

"I'm sure the atmosphere will be great, our fans always get behind us and we just need to try our best to give them something to shout about." 

Former Lyon boss Garde must assess midfielder Ashley Westwood, who is nursing a head injury. 

City remain without David Silva (ankle), Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri (hamstring) and Pablo Zabaleta, although Fabian Delph could be set for a feisty reception on his return to the club he left in controversial circumstances over the close season having returned from a hamstring injury. 

Key Opta stats: 

- Aston Villa have failed to score in five of the last seven league meetings with Manchester City. 

- City have won seven and lost one of the last eight Premier League games against Villa.

- City have scored four goals from the 88th minute onwards in their last three top-flight meetings with Villa. 

- Remi Garde will only be the sixth different Frenchman to take charge of a Premier League game after Arsene Wenger, Gerard Houllier, Jean Tigana, Jacques Santini and Alain Perrin. 

- Yaya Toure has scored all nine penalties he's taken in the Premier League. 

Zabaleta, Garay cut from Argentina squad

BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Argentina coach Gerardo Martino has called up full-back Gino Peruzzi and central defender Jonathan Maidana for the team's World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Colombia this month.

The duo replace Manchester City right-back Pablo Zabaleta and Zenit St Petersburg's Ezequiel Garay, who were ruled out with respective knee and thigh injuries, Argentina's football association said on Tuesday.

Peruzzi, 23, who plays for Boca Juniors, has represented the Albiceleste four times while 30-year-old River Plate man Maidana has two international caps.

Argentina are currently seventh in the South American zone standings with just one point from their first two matches against Ecuador and Paraguay.

Gerardo Martino's team will host Brazil in Buenos Aires on Nov. 12 before facing Colombia in Barranquilla five days later.

Weekend Premier League teams news and statistics

Sunday’s north London derby tops the fixtures with Laurent Koscielny in line to return for Arsenal.

Rob Elliot has declared himself fit for Newcastle’s game at Bournemouth despite aggravating a thigh injury against Stoke. Photograph: Lindsey Parnaby/AFP/Getty Images

SATURDAY (3.0 unless stated)

Bournemouth (17) v Newcastle (18), 12.45pm - Live BT Sport 1
Bournemouth will assess the fitness of goalkeeper Artur Boruc (thigh) and defender Steve Cook (ankle/foot). Adam Federici came into the side for both the Capital One Cup tie at Liverpool and league defeat at Southampton, so is on standby again should Poland international Boruc remain unavailable. Republic of Ireland midfielder Harry Arter will be looking for another chance to improve his match fitness having just returned to the side from a hip problem. Captain Tommy Elphick (ankle) continues his rehabilitation, while Callum Wilson, Tyrone Mings and Max Gradel (all knee) are all long-term absentees.

Rob Elliot has declared himself fit to spare Newcastle a goalkeeping crisis. The Republic of Ireland international aggravated a thigh injury during last weekend’s 0-0 home draw with Stoke with Tim Krul (cruciate ligament) and Karl Darlow (ankle) already out, but with 18-year-old Freddie Woodman waiting in the wings, Elliot has returned to training and is available. Full backs Daryl Janmaat (knee) and Kevin Mbabu (hamstring) are also fit.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Bournemouth L D L L L; Newcastle D L W L D
Top scorers (all competitions): Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) 5; Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle) 6
Match odds: H 6-5 A 11-5 D 12-5
Referee: Lee Mason

Leicester (3) v Watford (11)
Leicester have no injury concerns. England forward Jamie Vardy is poised to lead the Foxes into the encounter looking to score in a ninth consecutive Premier League game, with few worries over an Achilles niggle. Leonardo Ulloa, who returned from a thigh problem against West Brom, could start again alongside Vardy.

Watford’s top scorer Odion Ighalo will be available at the King Power Stadium. Ighalo limped off with a dead leg in Watford’s win at West Ham after a heavy challenge from James Collins, but the Nigerian striker will be fit to face the high-flying Foxes. Jose Manuel Jurado, who has not featured since September with a hamstring injury sustained in training, remains sidelined. Tommie Hoban (groin) and Joel Ekstrand (knee) are long-term absentees.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Leicester L W D W W; Watford L D L W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Jamie Vardy (Leicester) 11; Odion Ighalo (Watford) 7
Match odds: H 17-20 A 3-1 D 11-4
Referee: Roger East

Manchester United (4) v West Brom (12)
Midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has returned to training following his illness but is still a doubt. Ashley Young looks set to continue at right back as Matteo Darmian is suspended and Antonio Valencia is still out with a foot injury. Long-term absentees Luke Shaw (leg) and Paddy McNair (abdomen) remain sidelined.

Tony Pulis refused to name the players doubtful for the trip to Old Trafford but admitted he will assess “one or two” of his squad. Jonny Evans will make his first return to United after leaving in the summer, along with goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard, while Darren Fletcher is the third former Red Devil in Pulis’s squad. Ben Foster is closing in on a comeback from a long-term knee injury but is not yet available.

Last season: Man Utd 0 West Brom 1, West Brom 2 Man Utd 2
Last five league matches: Man Utd W L W D D; West Brom L L W W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 7; Salomon Rondon & Saido Berahino (West Brom) 3
Match odds: H 1-3 A 10-1 D 15-4
Referee: Mike Dean

Norwich (16) v Swansea (13)
Norwich are without Matt Jarvis after the on-loan West Ham winger tweaked knee ligaments in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester City. Canaries boss Alex Neil is expecting the 29-year-old to be missing for several weeks. There is better news for fellow loanees Andre Wisdom (knee) and Dieumerci Mbokani (illness) who both return to the squad in time for the weekend but club captain Russell Martin is suspended after being sent off at the Etihad Stadium.

Swansea boss Garry Monk has a full-strength squad to choose from. He could make changes with Leon Britton and Modou Barrow pushing to start after coming off the bench in the home defeat to Arsenal. Wide man Wayne Routledge will also be keen to get involved after shrugging off a recent calf problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Norwich D L L L L; Swansea L D L W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Nathan Redmond (Norwich) 4; Andre Ayew (Swansea) 5
Match odds: H 7-5 A 9-5 D 12-5
Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Sunderland (19) v Southampton (7)
Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole limped out of last week’s 6-2 defeat at Everton with a recurrence of a groin problem and will be missing against the Saints. But John O’Shea (hamstring), Younes Kaboul (groin), Ola Toivonen (groin) and Fabio Borini (ankle) are all available for selection again after missing last week’s defeat due to injury.

Victor Wanyama is suspended after his sending-off towards the end of Southampton’s victory over Bournemouth last week and Harrison Reed could step up to the team. Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long are once again unable to feature despite both forwards inching towards full fitness after knee and foot injuries respectively.

Last season: Sunderland 2 Southampton 1, Southampton 8 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Sunderland L D L W L; Southampton W W D D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) 6; Graziano Pelle (Southampton) 9
Match odds: H 15-4 A 3-4 D 13-5
Referee: Mike Jones

West Ham (6) v Everton (9) - Live Setanta Sports 1
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho will miss out due to a thigh injury. Defenders Winston Reid (knee)

and Angelo Ogbonna (hamstring) are fit after spells out, and one of them will replace the suspended James Collins at centre back. Midfielder Alex Song will not be involved, but he has been pencilled in for a friendly next week to build up his match-fitness following a summer ankle operation.

Bryan Oviedo will have to come out of Everton’s starting line-up but Leighton Baines is not yet fit enough to replace him. Costa Rica international Oviedo strained his hamstring in the first half of Sunday’s 6-2 win over Sunderland and could miss up to three weeks, meaning 19-year-old Brendan Galloway may have to fill in at left back once more. Baines, who is yet to play this season following ankle surgery, is back in full training, along with Tom Cleverley (ankle) and Muhamed Besic (hamstring), but his return will come in a behind-closed-doors friendly over the international break.

Last season: West Ham 1 Everton 2, Everton 2 West Ham 1
Last five league matches: West Ham D D W W L; Everton W D L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Dimitri Payet (West Ham) 5; Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 8
Match odds: H 6-4 A 7-4 D 12-5
Referee: Paul Tierney

Stoke (14) v Chelsea (15), 5.30pm - Live Sky Sports 1
Geoff Cameron is back in the Stoke squad after the United States international missed the last two games because of a thigh problem. Fellow defender Marc Muniesa (hamstring) is expected to miss a couple more weeks and goalkeeper Shay Given (knee) is also out but Phil Bardsley returns after serving a one-match ban.

Branislav Ivanovic is in contention to return for Chelsea, when manager Jose Mourinho will be absent due to a stadium ban. Right back Ivanovic has been absent in recent weeks with a hamstring injury, but is available again. Striker Radamel Falcao is out for a few weeks after sustaining an undisclosed injury in training on Tuesday, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (knee) remains sidelined.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Stoke 1, Stoke 0 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Stoke W W W L D; Chelsea D L W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 4; Willian (Chelsea) 5
Match odds: H 13-5 A 21-20 D 12-5
Referee: Anthony Taylor

SUNDAY

Aston Villa (20) v Manchester City (1), 1.30pm - Live on Sky Sports 1
Micah Richards is available to face former club Manchester City in Remi Garde’s first game in charge at Aston Villa. The defender missed Monday’s defeat at Tottenham through suspension but could return with rock-bottom Villa looking to end a run of seven straight league defeats on Sunday. Gabby Agbonlahor came off at half-time against Spurs with a tight calf while Ashley Westwood should recover after being hit in the face at White Hart Lane and Idrissa Gana and Adama Traore are expected to return after being rested.

Leaders Manchester City are still without playmaker David Silva. The 29-year-old, who has also not been included in the Spain squad for the upcoming friendlies against England and Belgium, has missed six games with an ankle injury but was thought to be close to returning. Striker Sergio Aguero, midfielder Samir Nasri and defender Pablo Zabaleta are also still out but midfielder Fabian Delph could make the bench against his former club.

Last season: Man City 3 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 0 Man City 2
Last five league matches: Aston Villa L L L L L; Man City L W W D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Scott Sinclair (Aston Villa) 6; Sergio Aguero (Man City) 8
Match odds: H 6-1 A 4-9 D 17-5
Referee: Craig Pawson

Arsenal (2) v Tottenham (5), 4.0 - Live on Sky Sports 1
Arsenal could have centre back Laurent Koscielny available following a hip problem. Manager Arsene Wenger reported no other fresh injury concerns from the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, but confirmed full back Hector Bellerin (groin) remains unavailable. Captain Mikel Arteta (ankle) faces a fitness test, while goalkeeper David Ospina could return from a shoulder problem.

Tottenham defender Danny Rose is hoping to recover from a knock in time for the derby. Rose came off in the second half of Monday’s win over Aston Villa but is expected to be fit while Clinton Njie is close to recovering from a hamstring injury and could also feature at the Emirates. Summer signing Son Heung-min is available again following six weeks out with a foot problem, but Nabil Bentaleb and Nacer Chadli are both out with ankle injuries. Andros Townsend is also likely to be absent as the winger serves punishment for his altercation with a club fitness coach on Monday.

Last season: Tottenham 2 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 1 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Arsenal W W W W W; Tottenham Hotspur W D D W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) 8; Harry Kane (Tottenham) 5
Match odds: H 4-6 A 15-4 D 3-1
Referee: Martin Atkinson 

Liverpool (8) v Crystal Palace (10), 4.0

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is likely to recall playmaker Philippe Coutinho. The Brazil international, scorer of two goals in last weekend’s win at Chelsea, was rested for the midweek win against Rubin Kazan in Russia as was Adam Lallana, centre back Martin Skrtel and midfielder Lucas Leiva, and most are expected to regain their places. Captain Jordan Henderson is gradually edging closer to fitness after an operation on a broken foot and has started some light running sessions but he is still a few weeks away from being in contention.

Dwight Gayle faces a late fitness test on his hamstring before Alan Pardew selects his starting XI. The forward’s potential absence further weakens Pardew’s options, with Connor Wickham and Marouane Chamakh also out, though both are expected to return following the international break. Lee Chung-yong is struggling with a foot injury and is therefore also expected to miss out, but Pape Souare is in line to feature after returning to full fitness.

Last season: Liverpool 1 Crystal Palace 3, Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 1
Last five league matches: Liverpool W D D D W; Crystal Palace W W L L DTop scorers (all competitions): Christian Benteke (Liverpool) 4; Yohan Cabaye & Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace) 4
Match odds: H 7-10 A 19-5 D 11-4
Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Argentina replace injured Pablo Zabaleta and Ezequiel Garay

Defenders Jonatan Maidana (River Plate) and Gino Peruzzi (Boca Juniors) were added on Tuesday by Argentina coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino to the Albiceleste callup for CONMEBOL qualifying against Brazil and Colombia on Nov. 12 and 17.

Maidana and Peruzzi replace the injured Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) and Ezequiel Garay (Zenit), who were removed from the squad list on Monday.

This will be the first recall for both Maidana and Peruzzi under Martino's direction.

Maidana last played in a friendly in 2011 when Sergio Batista was coaching while Peruzzi saw action under Alejandro Sabella.

Garay has a right hamstring injury while Zabaleta is being treated for a left medial ligament injury. Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini this week estimated that Zabaleta will be fit to return after the international break. 

The World Cup 2014 runners-up, missing Lionel Messi due to injury and forced to cope with the early exit of Sergio Aguero also to injury, began their journey to Russia with a shock 2-0 defeat to Ecuador in Buenos Aires last month.

Messi hasn't played since suffering a knee injury on Sept. 26 and is fighting to be fit for Barcelona's game against Real Madrid on Nov. 21. On Monday sources said his recovery was behind schedule. But Barcelona coach Luis Enrique on Tuesday denied there was any change in the situation.

"Leo's recovery is going normally for his injury," he said. "The doctors could explain. Every recovery is different, for each player, but there is no news -- neither positive nor negative. All is normal for a player who is injured."

Argentina will begin training for the 2018 qualifiers on Monday in Ezeiza.