Key events
15 min: Diallo is now much more incisive. After collecting a diagonal cross-field ball, the Norwich left winger drives at Khusanov and bends a lovely low cross towards the City back post. It’s not close enough to trouble Rulli and too far in front of Kvistgaarden but that was a promising ball. Perhaps if the Norwich striker had gambled a little bit.
12 min: Whisper it, but Norwich are looking quite threatening on the counter-attack. A few times they have broken and City – with their full-backs high up the pitch – have looked a little exposed. Norwich just haven’t picked the right pass when they have got near to City’s box, Diallo wasteful for the visitors on this occasion.
9 min: Nice flick from Samba, who is playing as a false nine, and the debutant releases Lewis, who is through on goal, albeit a little wide. Lewis steadies himself but with Bruno Alves covering for Norwich, the City man curls his shot a yard over the bar.
8 min: Bouaddi loses the ball for City, but Kovacic is there to mop up before flashing the youngster a knowing look.
6 min: Norwich on the counter-attack and Allan works back to stop Yongwa from crossing. The ball comes loose and the Norwich left back crunches the Brazilian in the tackle. Welcome to English football, Allan.
4 min: City enjoying lots of the ball. Allan has made a bright start on the right for City, a left-footer who looks in the ilk of Mahrez/Savinho/etc.
2 min: Norwich have set up in a 4-4-2, defending deep with the idea that they will try to hit City on the break.
Peeeeeeep!
And we’re underway!
“Man City is a tough place to try to survive a knockout match,” emails Peter Oh. “I wonder how the Canaries in the goal mine will fare.”
One does fear for Norwich City’s second string at the Etihad.
Here’s a bit more on Floyd Samba, for those not in the know, courtesy of Manchester City.
The 17-year-old is an exciting, versatile midfielder who joined City at Under-9s. His older brother Tyrone, a striker, is also at City’s academy.
He totalled 24 appearances last season for City’s academy sides across six competitions, and scored 17 and assisted six goals in those matches.
He is an England Under-17 international but is also eligible to represent France and Congo (through his father Christopher Samba) and Germany (through his mother).
He scored this free-kick in City’s 2-1 FA Youth Cup final win over Manchester United. Woof.
Let’s unpack those teams.
City are far from full-strength but this is still an elite team, captained by Kovacic. There are three debutants: Argentina international Gero Rulli (in goal), Brazilian winger Allan (signed for £34m in the summer) and Floyd Samba (academy midfielder and son of former Blackburn defender Christopher).
Norwich make nine changes to the Canaries’ starting XI from their 4-3 defeat at Middlesbrough. NINE! Jacob Wright, who grabbed a goal and an assist off the bench at Boro, is one of the players rewarded with a start.
The teams!
Manchester City: Rulli, Lewis, Khusanov, Vitor Reis, O’Reilly, Bouaddi, Kovacic, Allan, Cherki, Ait Nouri, Floyd Samba.
Subs: Donnarumma, Anderson, Guehi, Ndiaye, Fernandez, Matheus Luiz, Semenyo, McAidoo, Braithwaite.
Norwich: Grimshaw, Fisher, Darling, Bruno Alves, Yongwa, Wright, Field, Crnac, Ben Slimane, Diallo, Kvistgaarden.
Subs: Kovacevic, Stacey, McConville, Chrisene, Mattsson, Maghoma, Schwartau, Musaba, Toure.
Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo (Leicestershire).
Preamble
Recent trips to the Etihad Stadium have been rough for Norwich City fans. There were the 5-0 Premier League drubbings in 2020 and 2021, while City went two better in 2013, scoring seven, with Sergio Agüero, Yaya Touré, David Silva, Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko adding to two own goals from Bradley Johnson and Russell Martin. Just once did Norwich run City close in recent years, in 2015, but an 89th-minute penalty for City saw them run out narrow 2-1 winners.
But that was the league and this is the cup, which means Norwich can dream Carabao-infused dreams, and the Canaries will be channelling the spirit of Jonny Howson tonight.
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City, of course, are the League Cup holders and with the visit of Sunderland on Sunday, they will surely rest some or most of their best tonight. The issue for Norwich is that Maresca’s benchwarmers are still some of the best players in the world, with £85m teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi and £60m recruit Iliman Ndiaye expected to start.
The big question for Norwich and manager Philippe Clement is whether to go for it: the Championship side are reeling from a dramatic 4-3 defeat at Middlesbrough (and the long trip home) and the play-off hopefuls, currently in mid-table, have a crucial home match against Bolton this weekend.
The winner of this tie will face Brighton in the fourth round, which really isn’t ideal for either City or Norwich. The Seagulls’ comeback win at United on Wednesday robbed us of a potential Manchester derby, then, but there is plenty of work for City and Norwich to get through here, before we start looking too far ahead.
Kick-off: 7.30pm BST.