Manchester City are set to rename their Etihad Stadium for this weekend's Premier League clash against Brentford, as Pep Guardiola's side look to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal in the title race.
Community Matchday Initiative
Branding around the ground will highlight 'The City in the Community Etihad Stadium' as part of the ongoing recognition of the club's official charity. City in the Community (CITC) will be visible throughout the matchday in various ways, including the stadium name change, players wearing jackets with the charity's branding, and social media graphics drawn up by local schoolchildren.
Ruben Dias has also voiced travel announcements for buses and trams on matchday routes to support the initiative. While CITC receives support across the year through donations and visibility, one matchday is selected annually to showcase the charity's work, with this season's event taking place on Saturday.
Impact on Title Race
City's 3-3 draw with Everton has handed the advantage back to Arsenal, who are now five points clear of Pep Guardiola's side, though City have a game in hand. Speaking after the draw, Guardiola said: "We need to win our games. Now it is not in our hands. If they win their games the title will be for Arsenal. Now we have to win our next game."
The City manager added: "The point is better than no points, but it would have been better to win the game. Many things happened – the difficulty of the opponent, the incredibly aggressive way they play. We had composure in the first half but after they made a step up we maybe didn’t have the intention that we did in the first half."
Mike Geary, CEO of CITC, commented: "Community Matchday is a moment in the season where everyone connected to Manchester City comes together to celebrate the impact of City in the Community. From supporters in the stands to staff, partners and participants, it's a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a football club and its community unite behind a shared purpose."
City will hope to mark the occasion with a win as they strive to keep the Premier League title race alive. The match against Brentford is crucial, with only four games remaining in the season.
