Manchester City start their pre-season tour of Japan with a friendly against Yokohama F Marinos. So, here is everything you need to know about the Citizens’ opening match.
The Etihad Stadium outfit return to match action on Sunday as the reigning Premier League and Champions League champions. Pep Guardiola oversaw a dominant season in 2022/23 having also won the FA Cup. It was a historic treble for a club now so familiar with trophies.
Guardiola rewarded his players with an extended summer break for their triumphs last term. Manchester City only returned to Etihad Campus to kick off the club’s pre-season training on Monday, July 17. Yet the Citizens were already jetting off for a tour of Japan this Wednesday.
Match action is immediately on the horizon, as well, as Manchester City meet J-League team Yokohama F Marinos in their opening friendly on Sunday, July 23. So, ahead of their fixture in Tokyo, here is everything you need to know about the Citizens’ first friendly of the summer…
When is Yokohama F Marinos vs Manchester City?
Manchester City will take on Yokohama F Marinos at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on Sunday, July 23. The match kicks off at 19:00 local time, making their game 11:00 in England.
READ MORE: Everything we know about Man City’s 2023 pre-season tour
How to watch Yokohama F Marinos vs Manchester City
No TV network has opted to broadcast the friendly between Yokohama and Manchester City live in the UK. So, the only place that fans can watch the meeting is via the Citizens’ website.
An array of international networks will broadcast the fixture in their regions, though. Here is a full list of the global TV listings and related regions for the Japan National Stadium fixture:
- Network Ten – Australia
- Goat – Brazil
- DAZN – Belgium and Italy
- Corporacio Catalan – Catalonia
- Douyin – China
- MyTV Super – Hong Kong
- PT NET MEDIATAMA TELEVISI – Indonesia
- Charlton – Israel
- Measat – Malaysia
- Ziggo – Netherlands
- VG – Norway and Sweden
- Sport Tv – Portugal
- Mediacorp – Singapore
- Coupang – South Korea
- La Liga TV – Spain
- CH3+ – Thailand
- AbuDhabi Media – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Libya, Jordan, Sudan, South Sudan, Eretria, Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Palestine, Yemen and the Comoros Islands
- Saudi Sport Channel + Shahid – United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Libya, Jordan, Sudan South Sudan, Eretria, Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Palestine, Yemen and the Comoros Islands
- OneFootball TV (PPV in select regions not listed, except for the UK and Ireland)
Live stream of Yokohama F Marinos vs Manchester City
Manchester City is selling access to a live stream of their friendly with Yokohama F Marinos via City+ for fans in the UK. Supporters can also view a full replay of the encounter through Recast. While the price of a subscription for City+ can vary slightly subject to a subscription.
READ MORE: All Man City confirmed signings and transfers out in 2023/24
Fans can pay monthly to view City+ for £4.99 with the option to cancel at any time. While an annual subscription costs £34.99, marking a saving of £24. But season ticket holders and Official Cityzens members can buy the annual subscription for £30, a slight further saving.
Manchester City team news
Yokohama will offer Guardiola his first chance to see how ready his treble-winning team are for Manchester City’s title defences. The friendly should also offer the Citizens a first chance to see Mateo Kovacic in his new colours. The Croatian joined from Chelsea in June for £30m.
Guardiola will not have Kevin De Bruyne available for Manchester City’s opening friendly of the summer, however. The Belgian is still recovering from the hamstring injury he sustained in the Champions League final. It is likely to keep him out into the start of the 23/24 season.
Prediction: Yokohama F Marinos (1) vs (2) Manchester City
Given Yokohama F Marinos are in the midst of the J-League season and Manchester City are only now starting their pre-season, Manchester City News predicts Sunday’s friendly will be a close-fought affair. But Guardiola’s treble-winners should have enough to edge the match.
Yokohama will not be a pushover at the Japan National Stadium, though. Marinos sit second in the J-League standings after 21 matches having won 13 and drawn four so far. They have also scored 44 goals, having produced the division’s most lethal offence, to 24 conceded.
Anderson Lopes is also the J-League’s top-scorer with 15 of Yokohama’s 44 goals so far. He has featured in all 21 of Marinos’ fixtures and will pose the main threat for Guardiola’s men. While Shinnosuke Hatanaka and Jun Ichimori will try to stop Manchester City from scoring.
