The Premier League fixture list, released on Monday, gives the Blues a better balance as they plot a twin attack on domestic and European glory.
Twelve months ago City were seemingly done no favours by a computer which sent them away from home after each of the six Uefa Champions League group games. Roberto Mancini’s men ended up dropping seven points from those half dozen contests.
This time around, the team will have to make just one away trip after midweek European action, when they travel to Chelsea on November 24.
The other five league fixtures will all be played at home, culminating in the Manchester derby at The Etihad on December 8.
It’s almost the reverse of what happened last year and this will be welcome news for Mancini as he looks to improve on last season’s early exit from the competition.
