REPORT: Juve rival Inter in hunt for Zabaleta

As reported earlier, Inter Milan are seeking a new full back, and while their Sporting DirectorPiero Ausilio admires Genoa 30-year-old Cristian Ansaldi, the first team’s head coach Roberto Mancini would like to sign Manchester City 31-year-old Pablo Zabaleta. The latter seems intended to quit the Citizensas he won’t be part of their new boss Pep Guardiola’s plans.
However, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, also Juventus are interested in the Argentina international. Zabaleta has in any case more chances to join the nerazzurri, considering the good relations with Mancini himself and between his agent Federico Pastorello and the Lombard club.

Paris and Manchester City primed for progress

Paris are in the quarter-finals for the fourth year in a row and Manchester City for the first time, and the two will be keen to continue their recent progress in the competition.

While Paris Saint-Germain are in a fourth successive UEFA Champions League quarter-final, Manchester City FC are making their first appearance at this stage – yet both will be equally desperate to advance.

Previous meetings

• Paul Le Guen's Paris earned a goalless draw against a Manchester City side managed by Mark Hughes at the City of Manchester Stadium in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup group stage – their only previous meeting. Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta and Vincent Kompany were in the City team.

• The teams in Manchester on 3 December 2008 were:
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne, Ben Haim, Garrido, Kompany, Ireland, Elano (Benjani 49), Vassell (Hamann 76), Sturridge, Jô (C Evans 65).
Paris: Landreau, S Traoré, Sakho, Z Camara, Bourillon, Makélélé (Armand 59), Clément, Rothen, Pancrate (Giuly 69), Luyindula, Kežman (Hoarau 69).

• City finished first in Group A with Paris third, both sides progressing to the round of 32. Both eventually lost in the quarter-finals, City going down 4-3 on aggregate to Hamburger SV while Paris were beaten 3-0 over two legs by FC Dynamo Kyiv.

Match background

Paris

• Paris have won their last four UEFA Champions League matches, including home and away 2-1 wins against Chelsea FC in the round of 16.

• Paris are in the quarter-finals for the fourth year in a row, having lost to Barcelona in 2013 and 2015 and Chelsea in 2014.

• Overall, their European Cup quarter-final record is W1 L3. They beat Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate in 1994/95, subsequently losing to AC Milan in the semi-finals.

• The 3-1 home defeat by Barcelona in the 2014/15 quarter-final first leg was Paris' only home reverse in 38 games in European competition (25 wins, 12 draws) since Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC beat them in the 2006/07 UEFA Cup group stage.

• Laurent Blanc's side have won three of their four home fixtures in this season's competition, the exception the goalless draw against Real Madrid CF on matchday three. 

• Paris are unbeaten in their last four encounters with Premier League opposition, all against Chelsea, since a 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge in April 2014.

• The Parisian club have played 13 matches against English sides with the record W4 D5 L4. At home it is W3 D2 L1.

• Their knockout record in ties against English sides reads W3 L2.

Manchester City
• This is City's first European Cup quarter-final. Their last two UEFA Champions League campaigns ended in round of 16 defeat by Barcelona, in 2013/14 and 2014/15.

• The 3-1 aggregate win against Dynamo Kyiv in this season's round of 16 – 3-1 away, 0-0 home – was City's first European Cup knockout victory. Aside from those Barcelona defeats, their only previous tie was a 2-1 aggregate loss to Fenerbahçe SK in the 1968/69 first round.

• City have won three of their four away games in this season's competition, losing 1-0 at Juventus on matchday five. 

• While this is City's first quarter-final, their coach Manuel Pellegrini has been there with two other clubs – Villarreal CF (2005/06, 2008/09) and Málaga CF (2012/13). Only Villarreal's 2006 side won their last-eight tie, going on to lose to Arsenal FC in the semi-finals.

Coach and player links

• Yaya Touré was a team-mate of Zlatan Ibrahimović and Maxwell at Barcelona in 2009/10.

• David Luiz joined Paris in summer 2014 after three and a half years and 81 Premier League appearances for Chelsea. He scored against City in Chelsea's 2-0 home win in March 2011.

• Also played in England: Angel Di María, Manchester United (2014/15); Benjamin Stambouli, Tottenham Hotspur FC (2014/15)

• Played in France: Bacary Sagna, AJ Auxerre (2004–2007); Touré, AS Monaco FC (2006/07); Gaël Clichy (AS Cannes, 2002/03)

• Joe Hart was in goal for England when Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimović scored four times in a 4-2 victory for the Blågult in a November 2012 friendly.

• Hart and Raheem Sterling helped England to a 2-0 Wembley win against Blaise Matuidi's France on 17 November 2015.

• Aleksandar Kolarov scored Serbia's goal in a 1-1 friendly draw against France in Belgrade on 7 September 2014. Matuidi came on for the visitors.

• Blanc ended his playing days at Manchester United between 2001 and 2003, appearing in a 3-1 loss at Maine Road on 9 November 2002.

• Clichy made three appearances for Blanc's France side at UEFA EURO 2012, including the quarter final loss to David Silva's Spain (2-0)

• Ibrahimović scored Barcelona's winner against Pellegrini's Real Madrid at the Camp Nou on 29 November 2009.

•  International team-mates: 
Sagna, Clichy, Eliaquim Mangala & Matuidi, Layvin Kurzawa (France)
Fernandinho & David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Lucas (Brazil)
Nicolás Otamendi, Martin Demichelis, Zabaleta, Sergio Agüero & Javier Pastore, Di María (Argentina)
Touré, Wilfried Bony & Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast)

Manchester City set record in FA Cup victory cruise against Norwich

Man City goalkeeper Willy Caballero is a proud man after helping the Blues et a new mark in the FA Cup at Carrow Road.

Manchester City set a record on Saturday when they fielded five Argentinians in their starting XI.

Willy Caballero, Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Aguero all started for Manuel Pellegrini's side in their 3-0 win over Norwich in the FA Cup third round at Carrow Road – the first time five players from Argentina have played in the same English side.

Caballero says it was a proud day for all of them.

“Yes, of course, it's a day to remember because it's the first time,” he said. “We are really happy for this. It's good for us and Argentina as well.

“This is a good achievement today to win away and keep a clean sheet and now we wait for the draw for the next game.

“We are happy because we played very well the first half. Sergio scored a great goal, so we were comfortable after that.

“We gave a clean sheet away – that's really important for us and we defended really well today.

“We are also in the semi final of the other cup, so we have to be careful and arrive to this day with the same energy as today.”

Caballero has played just two games in the Premier League this season, but Pellegrini has confirmed he will play in every domestic cup match.

With Joe Hart in such excellent form this season, Caballero's chances have been limited, something he says is difficult to deal with.

“It's difficult [not playing every week] but I enjoy this team because it's a big club, a big opportunity, and now I play two games in a week and I feel really comfortable with the team. I'm enjoying every minute.”

Manchester City Field Five Argentines - A New English Football Record

Manchester Ciity became the first English club to field five Argentine players in a single game in English football during Saturday's 3-0 win at Carrow Road versus Norwich City.

Goalkeeper Willy Caballero,  Defenders Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, and Nicolas Otamendi as well as Forward Sergio Aguero started the match for the Blues.

Caballero reflected in an interview with the Manchester Evening News:

"Yes, of course, it's a day to remember because it's the first time," he said. "We are really happy for this. It's good for us and Argentina as well.

"This is a good achievement today to win away and keep a clean sheet and now we wait for the draw for the next game.

"We are happy because we played very well the first half. Sergio scored a great goal, so we were comfortable after that.

"We gave a clean sheet away - that's really important for us and we defended really well today.

"We are also in the semi final of the other cup, so we have to be careful and arrive to this day with the same energy as today."

The Blues quintet of Argentinians could all feature on Wednesday as City returns to Premier League action at The Etihad Stadium against Everton.

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.