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Brighton and Manchester City go head-to-head on Wednesday night in the Premier League with both sides already safe in the knowledge that they’ve reached their objectives for the season. City wrapped up their third consecutive Premier League title last weekend thanks to Nottingham Forest beating Arsenal, while Brighton secured Europa League football for next season when they beat Southampton on Sunday afternoon.
City’s season isn’t done there, though, with their sights firmly set on a famous treble. Next weekend, they take on Manchester United in the FA Cup Final before travelling to Istanbul the following week to take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
For Brighton, their work is complete and Roberto de Zerbi can be more than proud of what he has achieved this season. The Seagulls have never played in a European competition before but the Italian has led them to the promised land in his first season at the club.
With nothing to play for on Wednesday night, though, expect a fun game of football between two teams who play the most attractive football in the league. The match is set to kick off at 20:00 UK time and viewers will be able to watch it on SkySports Premier League and SkySports Main Event.
Brighton Team News: Robert Sanchez to remain at home
Last week, Roberto de Zerbi confirmed that Robert Sanchez’s absence from Brighton’s matchday squads was purely down to the goalkeeper himself. Sanchez has played second fiddle to Jason Steele since March and the Spaniard has decided that he doesn’t want to sit on the bench any longer. Speaking to reporters, de Zerbi said:
“With Robert, we spoke before the Arsenal game and we decided together the best solution was to stay home, he decides everything. Robert decides and at the moment it’s like this. He wanted it this way, not me, not the club.”
I can't be alone in finding it really sad that Robert Sanchez hasn't made himself available over the last three games to be part of this. #BHAFC
He has been part of it, a big part. It's a decision I'm sure he will regret later in his career. https://t.co/4FkP0WClHg— Andy Naylor (@AndyNaylorBHAFC) May 22, 2023
With Sanchez set to remain at home for the visit of Manchester City, the Spaniard won’t have the opportunity to say goodbye to supporters at the Amex Stadium ahead of an inevitable transfer this summer. He moved to the club in 2013 from Levante as a 16-year-old and it is a shame that it has had to end this way.
Elsewhere, de Zerbi will be without Solly March, Adam Lallana, Tariq Lamptey, Jakub Moder, Adam Webster, and Jeremy Sarmiento due to injuries, and he will exercise caution when it comes to Joel Veltman and Evan Ferguson with the pair only recently back from injury problems.
Exciting youngsters Julio Enciso and Facundo Buonanotte are both set to start while Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo may be lining up in a Brighton shirt at the Amex Stadium for the final time with speculation rife about both of their futures.
Manchester City Team News: Guardiola to ring the changes once again
For fantasy football players, the notion of Pep roulette is enough to strike fear into anyone. The Spaniard has been known over the years for being erratic with team selections and with the league now wrapped up, nobody’s place in the team is guaranteed.
Guardiola made nine changes to his starting lineup for the game against Chelsea but he could recall a couple of big names for the trip to Brighton. Although the ex-Barcelona manager will be wary about picking up injuries ahead of two cup finals, he will also be worried about the potential of his players losing their rhythm.
Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Rodri, and Kevin de Bruyne are all expected to return to the starting lineup on Wednesday with the likes of Julian Alvarez, Kalvin Phillips and Phil Foden expected to drop back to the bench. In terms of injuries, Nathan Ake is still unavailable and there are doubts about whether he will play again this season.
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