Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England December 20, 2014.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England December 20, 2014. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Manchester City FC will travel to West Bromwich Albion FC for the traditional Boxing Day fixture at The Hawthorns this Friday at 3 pm local time. Manchester City are hot on the heels of the league leaders Chelsea FC whereas West Brom are just two points above the relegation zone.

Manchester City FC are the form team in the whole division right now. They have won their last five matches across all competitions. They have won the last six league games on the trot. In all of the eight away matches in the first part of the season they have won five, drawn two and lost one. Manuel Pellegrini's trips to the capital have not been filled with satisfaction. They dropped points against Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers, while they lost to West Ham United.

With Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero injured, City have two of their most important players out. In spite of that they are producing good results week in and week out, this is the hallmark of a champion team.

West Bromwich Albion FC, managed by Alan Irvine are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. They have lost three of their last five matches. Drawing and winning the two other. The good thing is that they practically have a fully fit squad and they would need every one of them to be firing all cylinders to have any chance of taking something away from this match.

In the last 10 meetings between the two sides Manchester City FC have won eight of them, one was a draw and the other was a West Brom win. At The Hawthorns, in the last five corresponding matches, one was won by the home team, one was a draw and the other three matches were won by Manchester City.

Yaya Toure, the current second highest scorer for the club with seven goals in all competitions scored a brace in a two-three win the last time this two teams met. With Burnley and Sunderland, two teams struggling, to play in the next two matches Manchester City FC could have a very successful set of Christmas fixtures. With some help from other sets of fixtures they could be at the top of the table come the New Year.

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