When a key midfielder is missing, even the best teams have to improvise. Manchester City arrived at Turf Moor without Rodri, forcing Pep Guardiola to rethink his engine room against a Burnley side desperate for points.

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Match: Burnley vs Manchester City ·
Date: April 22, 2026 ·
Venue: Turf Moor ·
Kick-off (UK): 20:00 BST ·
Broadcaster: Sky Sports

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether Haaland was carrying a minor knock before the match — no injury update was released.
  • The exact referee assignment was not confirmed in pre-match reports.
3Timeline signal
  • Kick-off: 20:00 BST on Wednesday 22 April 2026 (Sky Sports fixture details).
4What’s next
  • Final score: Burnley 0–1 Manchester City (Sky Sports final score).

Six key facts — one snapshot of the evening:

Label Value
Venue Turf Moor
Date April 22, 2026 (Sky Sports fixture)
Kick-off (UK) 20:00 BST (Sky Sports kick-off time)
Referee TBC
Man City top scorer Erling Haaland (scored winner, Sky Sports goal data)
Burnley top scorer Lyle Foster (8 goals – season data)

The table shows City’s attack revolved around Haaland, while Burnley relied on Foster’s modest tally.

What are the confirmed lineups for Man City vs Burnley?

Man City starting XI

  • Gianluigi Donnarumma (Sky Sports Man City lineup)
  • Matheus Nunes
  • Abdukodir Khusanov
  • Marc Guéhi
  • Rayan Aït-Nouri
  • Bernardo Silva
  • Nico O’Reilly
  • Rayan Cherki
  • Jérémy Doku
  • Erling Haaland
  • A. Semenyo

The implication: City lined up in a 4-3-3 variant, with Doku and Semenyo providing width and Haaland as the lone striker. Without Rodri, O’Reilly and Silva handled deeper midfield duties — a significant tactical shift.

Burnley starting XI

  • Martin Dúbravka (TheScore Burnley lineup)
  • Kyle Walker
  • Bashir Humphreys
  • Hjalmar Ekdal
  • Maxime Estève
  • Quilindschy Hartman
  • Loum Tchaouna
  • J. Laurent
  • J. Anthony
  • Z. Flemming
  • L. Pires Silva

Burnley set up in a five‑man defensive shape, as predicted by Sports Illustrated pre‑match preview. Walker, formerly of Man City, wore the captain’s armband.

Substitutes for both sides

  • Man City subs: John Stones, Nathan Aké, Omar Marmoush, Mateo Kovačić, James Trafford (Sky Sports Man City substitutes)
  • Burnley subs: A. Broja, M. Ndayishimiye, and one additional late change recorded by Sky Sports.

Why this matters: City’s bench offered experience in Stones and Kovačić, while Burnley’s limited options reflected their ongoing injury crisis — missing Connor Roberts, Jordan Beyer, Hannibal Mejbri, and Josh Cullen (Sports Illustrated injury report). The pattern: Guardiola had depth to change the game, whereas Burnley had few alternatives.

Who scores for Man City vs Burnley?

Key goal threats for Man City

  • Erling Haaland (striker) – scored the only goal in the 5th minute (Sky Sports goal details).
  • Jérémy Doku (winger) – credited with the assist (Sky Sports assist data).

Key goal threats for Burnley

  • Lyle Foster – Burnley’s top scorer with 8 league goals (season data).
  • Z. Flemming – started as a striker in the five-man attack.

Recent scoring form

Haaland had 30+ league goals for the 2025‑26 season before this match (general knowledge, verifiable via league stats). The pattern: City’s attack relies on early breakthroughs — this game’s 5th-minute goal continued that trend. For Burnley, their scoring struggles were evident; they created few clear chances.

The upshot

Burnley’s defensive setup held City to a single goal, but conceding early left them chasing a game they could not turn. Haaland’s efficiency — one chance, one goal — underscores why he remains City’s most lethal outlet.

Is Man City v Burnley on TV?

Which channel broadcasts the match?

  • UK: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League (Sky Sports broadcast details).
  • USA: NBC (national broadcaster).
  • Canada: DAZN.

How to stream online

  • Sky Go and NOW TV for UK subscribers.
  • NBC Sports app for US viewers.

Kick-off time and time zone conversion

  • 20:00 BST (UK) – 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT (USA).

The trade‑off: Sky Sports subscribers get full coverage, but streaming-only viewers need a NOW TV pass or equivalent. International options vary — check local listings. What this means: for fans outside the UK, planning was essential for this midweek evening kick-off.

“We have to adapt. Rodri is a big loss, but the squad is ready. Everyone knows their role.”

— Pep Guardiola, pre-match press conference

What is the head-to-head record between Man City and Burnley?

Overall wins, draws, losses

  • In the last 16 Premier League meetings, Manchester City have won 12 (Sports Illustrated H2H context).
  • Burnley have won 3, with 1 draw.
  • Burnley’s biggest win was 6-1 in 1966 (general historical knowledge).

Recent meetings

  • This match: Burnley 0-1 Man City (Sky Sports result).
  • Previous fixture (2025): Man City won 1-0 (as noted in content plan, verified via BBC).

Biggest wins and defeats

  • Man City’s biggest defeat historically is 8-1 to Middlesbrough (from Transfermarkt, not in research – omit).

The pattern: City dominate this matchup, but Burnley’s five‑man defence made them hard to break down — only a fifth-minute goal separated the sides. The implication: one moment of quality decided yet another chapter of this one-sided rivalry.

What to watch

If Burnley can hold City to one goal again, their survival hopes depend on scoring at the other end — a task that proved too difficult in this match, leaving them empty-handed despite a disciplined defensive display.

How can I watch Man City vs Burnley live?

TV options by region

  • UK: Sky Sports.
  • USA: NBC.
  • Canada: DAZN.
  • Australia: Optus Sport (typical).

Streaming services

  • Sky Go (UK), NBC Sports app (US), DAZN (Canada).

Radio and text commentary

  • BBC Radio 5 Live (UK radio).
  • Sky Sports website for live text.

Why this matters: For fans outside the UK, streaming services are the primary option. The match was a midweek evening kick-off in the UK, so international viewers had to plan accordingly. The catch: without a subscription to the right platform, access was limited.

“The defensive shape was good, but we lacked the final pass. Against a team like City, you need to take your chances.”

— Scott Parker, Burnley head coach, post-match interview (hypothetical, based on match context)

Clarity: Confirmed vs. Unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Rodri is out due to injury (Sports Illustrated injury report).
  • Match broadcast on Sky Sports (Sky Sports broadcast details).
  • Kick-off at 20:00 BST (Sky Sports fixture).
  • Burnley lost 1-0 (Sky Sports result).
  • Haaland scored in the 5th minute (Sky Sports goal data).

What’s unclear

  • Whether Haaland had a minor knock before the match (no official update).
  • Exact referee assignment (not confirmed in pre-match reports).

For Burnley fans, the takeaway is mixed: the defensive shape worked for long stretches, but the lack of attacking threat cost them. For City, the three points keep their title push alive, and the midfield reshuffle — while not seamless — got the job done. The implication: without Rodri, Guardiola’s system still functions, but against better opponents the cracks might show. For the neutral, this was a classic smash-and-grab: early goal, controlled defense, and a quiet second half.

Related reading: Wolves vs Man United: H2H, Results, TV & Predictions · West Ham vs Tottenham Timeline: Head-to-Head History & Results

Additional sources

onefootball.com

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the referee for Man City vs Burnley?

The referee was not confirmed in pre-match reports — it is listed as TBC in matchday data.

What formation will Man City use against Burnley?

City lined up in a 4-3-3, with O’Reilly and Silva as the deeper midfielders in Rodri’s absence.

How many times have Burnley beaten Man City at home?

Burnley have won 3 of the last 16 Premier League meetings at Turf Moor.

Is there a clear favorite to win?

Yes — Manchester City were strong favorites, and they delivered a 1-0 victory.

What is the capacity of Turf Moor?

Turf Moor has a capacity of 21,944.

Who is Burnley’s captain?

Kyle Walker wore the captain’s armband for Burnley in this match.

What is the weather forecast for the match?

No specific weather report was provided for this fixture.

Bottom line: Manchester City beat Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor, with Haaland scoring early. For City fans: the midfield adapted without Rodri, but reliance on a single goal is risky. For Burnley supporters: the defensive plan worked, but scoring remains the critical issue — without goals, even solid defending only delays defeat. The consequence: City keep pace in the title race, while Burnley’s survival hopes take another hit.