Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Manchester City and Middlesbrough.

A couple of weeks ago, both City and Boro were struggling for results and neither knew where their next win was coming from. Fast forward two weeks and it's a completely different story. Both clubs have impressed in their last two outings and they come together this afternoon with every expectation that they will extend their unbeaten run to three games. We should have a cracker of a game for you.

While we will justifiably speak up the chances of both clubs, it cannot be ignored that this is still the Premier League leaders against a team who are 15th and just three points above the drop zone. Boro have also gone four games without getting a win on the board on the road so make no mistake about it, they are huge underdogs at the Etihad Stadium.

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the teams which have been selected by both Pep Guardiola and Aitor Karanka.

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Bravo; Zabaleta, Stones, Kolarov, Clichy; Fernandinho, Gundogan; Silva, De Bruyne, Navas; Aguero

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Kompany, Maffeo, Garcia, Nolito, Iheanacho, Sane

MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Valdes, Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, De Roon, Forshaw; Traore, Downing, Negredo

MIDDLESBROUGH SUBSTITUTES: Guzan, Bernardo, Fabio, Leadbitter, Fischer, Stuani, Nugent

First of all, let's take a look at the City lineup. Unsurprisingly, Kevin De Bruyne features from the start after missing the last Premier League fixture with West Bromwich Albion. He was instrumental against Barcelona in midweek and will be looking to repeat that today. There's also a rare starting role for Jesus Navas, who plays instead of the absent Raheem Sterling. Gael Clichy also comes into the team but Vincent Kompany is forced to make do with a place on the bench.

As for Boro, Karanka keeps changes to a minimum with the only alteration seeing the suspended Gaston Ramirez replaced by Marten de Roon. Alvaro Negredo starts against his former side.

Premier League matches which kick off at 3pm are in short supply this afternoon. There are just three other fixtures taking place before we bring you live coverage of the game involving Chelsea and Everton.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's match represents the 127th time that these two teams have faced each other in a competitive match. Somewhat surprisingly, City have only registered one more win than Boro with 50 victories to their name in comparison to the 49 successes for Boro. It's been a while since they last played in a league fixture, however. February 2009 to be precise.

While it has been almost eight years since they squared off in a league game, it's been less than two since they met at the Etihad Stadium.

In January 2015, Boro were handed a tough ask in the FA Cup fourth round but goals from Patrick Bamford and Kike earned the North-East outfit a memorable victory. They were easily beaten by Arsenal in the next round but they gave their supporters some memories on that day and the aim will be to do the same this afternoon. There's a large travelling contingent who have made their way to Manchester.

Boro's starting lineup was pretty straightforward but the same cannot be said for City. The majority of City fans would have expected both Kompany and Sterling to start but Guardiola has sprung a surprise. It appears to be simple rotation as far as Sterling is concerned but with the winger only playing 70 minutes in midweek and with an international break to come, it seems a strange decision. Sterling doesn't even feature on the bench.

With Kompany, Guardiola hinted that the club skipper could play 90 minutes this afternoon after failing to do so since his return from the injury which kept out of Euro 2016. Instead, he is forced to watch on from the bench as his manager opts to bring in Clichy for Otamendi instead. Again, a left-field choice...

We cannot go through the build-up to this match without taking a look back at City's triumph over Barcelona in midweek. For the first half-hour, it appeared that City would be blown away by the Catalan giants who deserved led through a Lionel Messi goal. However, Guardiola changed his tactics in such a way that it took both Barcelona and many fans by surprise. Guardiola has previously stated that he would not tinker with his philosophy but the direct style he employed for the final 60 minutes shook Barca and they had no response as they conceded three goals either side of half-time. It will probably just be a one-off but City's rivals in the Premier League would have sat up and taken note that they have more versatility than many expected.

Before we bring you our prediction, let's say a quick few words on Middlesbrough who have recovered from a poor run of form to register back-to-back clean sheets against Arsenal and Bournemouth. It's the result at the Emirates Stadium which was particularly impressive with Karanka's men being the first side to stop Arsenal scoring at home this season. They arguably face a sterner test at the Etihad but if they can approach the game in the same mindset and make full use of the pace of Adama Traore and the strength of City old boy Alvaro Negredo, then they could potentially cause a second surprise in the space of a few weeks.

PREDICTION! We feel that Boro have a chance this afternoon but it's all about their start to the game. City will be full of confidence after the way they ended the Barcelona clash so Boro cannot afford to lose any focus in their own final third. An early goal for the home side wouldn't necessarily make it game over but City have the quality to run riot if given the chance. City to win 2-0.

It's time for the two teams to make their way out onto the pitch at the Etihad Stadium. It's certainly a chilly one but I don't think the temperature is going to influence the kind of football we could have on show. A premier League clash between two Spanish managers with Barcelona and Real Madrid connections. It's not everyday you can say that.

We are underway at the Etihad Stadium.

City win an early corner and although that comes to nothing, the home side have another chance to attack down the left-hand side before a defender gets a tackle in. As predicted, City look sharp.

Boro are very much on the back foot but we have already seen an example of the sensational pace of Traore. He found himself blocked in on the right flank but a turn of foot inside left a number of City players flagging behind him and he even managed to get the ball to a teammate. City have been warned.

Despite that burst from Traore, Boro are sitting on the edge of their own penalty area and inviting pressure from City. Dangerous game! So far, they are preventing their hosts getting any shots away but it will only be a matter of time before they start to test Victor Valdes.

BOOKING! The yellow card comes out for De Roon after conceding a foul on the edge of the penalty area. De Bruyne takes responsibility over Kolarov but unlike on Tuesday night, his shot hits the wall and the ball goes away from goal.

CHANCE! It wasn't the simplest of chances but Gundogan should definitely hit the target. Navas did well down the right before crossing for his teammate, but it was slightly behind him and his volley into the ground trickled wide.

We are yet to see Middlesbrough have any possession whatsoever in the final third. Negredo is chasing lost causes but that's about it. It's going to take a City goal before the visitors change the way they are playing this afternoon.

BOOKING! Forshaw goes into the book for a coming together with Zabaleta. It's not THAT bad of a foul but it looked it in real time. That's two of Middlesbrough's midfielders who have been booked.

SHOT! City are still being restricted to long-range strikes but at least this one hits the target. Kolarov fancies his chances from around 30 yards but while it was heading towards the roof of the net, it was also straight at Valdes.

CHANCE! That's much better from City. De Bruyne is played through down the left-hand side of the penalty area but his shot just missed the far post with Valdes seemingly beaten. The pressure is building...

City have retreated back to their patient, probing approach in the hope of drawing Boro out from their only 18-yard box but I don't think it's going to work. There also seems a reluctance to try a shot from distance as well so most of their build-up play is coming to nothing. Boro will be delighted with this so far.

CHANCE! Boro were delighted but they almost conceded after I had commented on their defensive work. Aguero weaved his way into a shooting position in the penalty area but despite his effort heading for the bottom corner, Valdes was able to make a solid block.

CHANCES! Surely Boro can't hold out for much longer? Gaps are starting to open up in the Boro penalty area but somehow, they have survived on two occasions. Firstly, Valdes produced an excellent intervention to deny Silva before Aguero volleyed wide from 12 yards.

Valdes has been demanding that the ball is kicked out for a couple of minutes after sustaining a cut to his thigh but City refuse. Play continues until Fernandinho sees a shot deflected over. In all fairness to Valdes, I think the cut will need stitches.

Boro have decided to continue with Valdes. It has been patched up but I'm sure it will receive more treatment at half time.

It had been coming. Aguero converts from close range but all of the credit goes to De Bruyne, who produced an exquisite cross from the right to find his teammate from six yards out.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

It's worth us noting that Aguero has now netted 150 goals for City. I'm sure it won't be the last.

The half-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and City deservedly lead through that close-range effort from Aguero. Middlesbrough came out with the intention of stifling Guardiola's men and while that has worked to an extent, they still finds themselves behind and with little option but to change things in the second half.

City get us back underway for this second half.

SHOT! Oh my word. Negredo has very nearly scored a Beckham, or a Rooney, if you like. The Spaniard was just inside City's half before he spotted Bravo off his line and the ball is heading into the net before the goalkeeper gets back to tip it over the bar.

CHANCE! Middlesbrough are piling on the pressure now and they really should be ahead. After some great work from Traore, Forshaw had the opportunity to beat Bravo from close range but the goalkeeper managed to get the block in.

BOOKING! Middlesbrough started the game with three midfielders and they all have a yellow card to their name. Adam Clayton is the latest to enter the referee's notebook after a foul on Silva.

Where was this performance from Middlesbrough in the first half? You can't blame them for being tentative against City but they are showing that they are capable of causing them problems. If they can equalise, what a game we have on our hands.

That's great defending from Kolarov. There only appears one winner when Traore goes up against the Serbian but he manages to get a foot in and put the ball behind for a corner. Traore looks a constant threat for the visitors.

I don't think it will be long until we see some changes from both sides. Things have gone a little flat. We've just had one long-busting run from Aguero but aside from that. both teams seem to be waiting for the other to make the next move.

SHOT! We've not seen a whole lot of Gundogan this afternoon but he's just gone close with a volley from the edge of the penalty area. The German has been in excellent goalscoring form of late.

CHANCE! De Bruyne should really have his second assist of the match after finding Aguero inside the penalty area but the Argentine can only head over from close range.

Just 20 minutes to go at the Etihad. Middlesbrough have reverted back to their tactics from the first half. I'm not sure why. This game is getting away from them now.

CHANCE! Not for the first time, Fernandinho concedes possession in the middle of the pitch and Boro break through De Roon. The midfielder finds Downing but the left-sided player chooses to fire the ball across the box and it goes wide of the far post.

SUBSTITUTION! Guardiola has moved to replace Gundogan with Nolito. It looks like a change in formation too.

SUBSTITUTION! Karanka makes his first change of the game with Viktor Fischer coming on to replace Downing. The former Ajax man is yet to make an impact since his move in the summer.

Since that half chance through Downing, we haven't seen any shots. City won't care but Boro need to show something else to get anything from this game. They've impressed but it will mean nothing if the score remains the same.

Fischer showed his pace and trickery around the penalty area but his final ball to Negredo was cut out by a defender. That was a chance. City broke through Aguero but he, too, wasted the opening.

CHANCE! City should be 2-0 ahead. De Bruyne releases Nolito and after finding Aguero, the Argentine should score. Instead, after taking a touch, he sends the ball wide of the post from 12 yards.

BOOKING! Aguero picks up a needless booking for a foul and a risky follow-through. He always has to be pulled away from a confrontation with a Boro player. Lucky boy.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

Unbelievable! Boro are level at the Etihad! An outstanding cross from the left from Friend finds De Roon at the back post and after jumping above Clichy, he headed the ball past Bravo from eight yards. The goalkeeper should perhaps have done better.

The full-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and Middlesbrough have snatched an unlikely point against Manchester City. It appeared that the game had got away from them but in the first minute of added-on time, De Roon rose above Clichy to stun the home supporters.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope that you can stick around for the Chelsea and Everton match which is scheduled to start at 5.30pm. Goodbye for now.