Blog do Flávio Ramalho: Manuel Pellegrini has warned his Manchester City side to avoid taking the threat of Burnley lightly on Sunday.

Match preview

Manuel Pellegrini has warned his Manchester City side to avoid taking the threat of Burnley lightly on Sunday.

City head into the second leg of the hectic festive schedule in ominous form, having won their last nine matches in all competitions.

The Barclays Premier League champions blew West Bromwich Albion away with a three-goal blitz inside the first 34 minutes at The Hawthorns on Boxing Day, despite the fact they were once again without a recognised senior striker.

Sergio Aguero (knee), Edin Dzeko (calf) and Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) have all missed City's last three matches, but James Milner has shone in an unfamiliar forward role in that trio's absence.

Pellegrini confirmed after the 3-1 victory at West Brom that Jovetic could be in line for a return against Burnley, along with captain Vincent Kompany, who has also been struggling with a hamstring problem.

But even though 19th-placed Burnley have only won three matches since their return to the top flight, Pellegrini insisted that any complacency from City could be punished.

"I watched some games they played and I think they are playing well," the Chilean said.

"They are an offensive team who play with two strikers - they have good players.

"If you think that it is an easy game, you're going to have a big problem.

"We hope we can play against Burnley in the same way we play against any other team."

Friday's comfortable win in the Midlands kept City hot on the heels of Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea.

City sit just three points adrift of Jose Mourinho's side and Pellegrini hopes to close that gap sooner rather than later, especially with the Londoners facing - on paper, at least - the tougher fixtures in the coming days.

"This is a very important month and a key week because we have to play nine points in just one week," the City boss added.

"I don't think this is the week that will decide the Premier League but it is important to be, as soon as we can, top of the table."

Burnley, meanwhile, make the trip to Manchester having been unlucky to lose 1-0 to Liverpool at Turf Moor on Boxing Day.

Sean Dyche's team played superbly against last season's runners-up, but failed to make their first-half dominance count and were punished by Raheem Sterling's winner just after the hour.

Dyche - who was boosed by the long-awaited return of Sam Vokes from a serious knee injury against Liverpool - was full of praise for his side in defeat, and wants them to adopt a similarly bold approach at the Etihad Stadium.

"We know the expectation is totally on them - we have that freedom against those clubs," he said.

"It doesn't get you a result but it means the players can go and play."

Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Nastasic, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, Lampard, Milner, Nasri, Navas, Silva, Sinclair, Toure, Jovetic.

Burnley (from): Cisak, Gilks, Heaton, Keane, Lafferty, Long, Mee, O’Neill, Reid, Shackell, Trippier, Arfield, Boyd, Chalobah, Howieson, Jones, Kightly, Marney, Taylor, Wallace, Barnes, Ings, Jutkiewicz, Sordell, Vokes.

Match Appointments
Referee: Kevin Friend Assistants: I Hussin, S Burt Fourth Official: M Oliver

Match Facts
There have been 37 goals scored in the last seven meetings between Manchester City and Burnley, with the last four seeing at least six goals scored in each.
Yaya Toure has netted in each of the last three Barclays Premier League appearances at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City have won 23 and lost just two of their 27 BPL home matches under Manuel Pellegrini.
Burnley have picked up just nine points from a possible 81 available away from home in their two stints in the Barclays Premier League.

Man City

Manager: Manuel Pellegrini

Burnley

Manager: Sean Dyche

Current form

Last six matches
WON	1 - 3 v West Brom (A)	26 Dec 2014
WON	3 - 0 v Crystal Palace (H)	20 Dec 2014
WON	0 - 1 v Leicester (A)	13 Dec 2014
WON	1 - 0 v Everton (H)	06 Dec 2014
WON	1 - 4 v Sunderland (A)	03 Dec 2014
WON	0 - 3 v Southampton (A)	30 Nov 2014

Last win/defeat
WON	1 - 3 v West Brom (A)	26 Dec 2014
LOST	2 - 1 v West Ham (A)	25 Oct 2014

Manchester City club profile

Current form

Last six matches
LOST	0 - 1 v Liverpool (H)	26 Dec 2014
LOST	2 - 1 v Spurs (A)	20 Dec 2014
WON	1 - 0 v Southampton (H)	13 Dec 2014
LOST	2 - 0 v QPR (A)	06 Dec 2014
DRAWN	1 - 1 v Newcastle (H)	02 Dec 2014
DRAWN	1 - 1 v Aston Villa (H)	29 Nov 2014