Manchester City will host RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, hoping to continue their impressive run of form in Europe.
Manchester City have picked up four consecutive victories in the UEFA Champions League group stage thus far, and they will look to extend that run of form with a comprehensive win at home over RB Leipzig on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, the Bundesliga outfit are second in the standings with three wins and a defeat from four group games. They were beaten by Manchester City in the reverse fixture, and the visitors will look to avenge that defeat here.
Manchester City are undoubtedly the better team on paper and should fancy their chances of continuing their fine run of form with a positive result here. But Pep Guardiola’s men saw their winning run end this past weekend, with Liverpool holding them to a 1-1 draw.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig are coming into this game on the back of a 2-1 defeat in the Bundesliga to VfL Wolfsburg. So, they will have to improve immensely in order to grind out an away win. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News and Tactics
Manchester City
Manchester City will be without Mateo Kovacic and Kevin De Bruyne. Both players are likely to return to action next month. The home side will shape up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Ederson Moraes in goal. Kyle Walker will start alongside Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol in a back three.
Phil Foden and Jack Grealish are likely to be deployed as the wingers, and they will look to double down as the wing-backs as well and help out the defenders. Rodri will start as the defensive midfielder with John Stones alongside him.
Both players will look to break up the opposition attack and shield the back three. Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez will be deployed as the central attacking midfielders here, and the two players will look to create goalscoring opportunities for star striker Erling Haaland.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Gvardiol; Foden, Stones, Rodri, Grealish; Silva, Alvarez; Haaland
RB Leipzig
The visitors have a number of injury problems heading into this contest, and they will be without key players like Dani Olmo, Timo Werner and Benjamin Sesko. Willi Orban and El Chadaille Bitshiabu are ruled out with injuries as well.
They are likely to shape up in the 4-4-2 formation, with Janis Blaswich in goal. Benjamin Henrichs and David Raum will be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to protect the central defence and help out during transitions. Mohamed Simakan will start alongside Castello Lukeba in central defence.
Emil Forsberg and Xavi Simons will be deployed in the wide areas, and they will look to add creativity and width to the side. They are likely to drift infield to outnumber the Manchester City midfield.
Kevin Kampl will start alongside Xaver Schlager in the middle of the park; the two players will look to protect the defensive unit. Finally, Lois Openda will lead the line for RB Leipzig here, with Yussuf Poulsen alongside him.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Blaswich; Henrichs, Simakan, Lukeba, Raum; Simons, Schlager, Kampl, Forsberg; Openda, Poulsen
Key Stats
- 25 goals have been scored in the last five matches between these two sides.
- Manchester City are unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions.
- RB Leipzig have lost three of their last five matches in all competitions.
- RB Leipzig have conceded 18 goals in their last five matches against Manchester City.
Player to Watch
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland has reached 50 Premier League goals in fewer appearances than any other player in the competition’s history, breaking Andy Cole’s record.
Only 48 games needed. 🤖 pic.twitter.com/pOW7qpQuFD
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 25, 2023
The Manchester City striker is in red-hot form right now, and he has scored 12 goals in his last 10 outings for club and country. Haaland managed to find the back of the net against Liverpool in his last game and will look to extend his fine run of form by getting on the scoresheet against RB Leipzig. The away side is ravaged by injuries, and Haaland has the quality to take advantage of their vulnerabilities.
Prediction
Manchester City 3-0 RB Leipzig
The home side are firm favourites heading into this contest and judging by their recent performances, they should be able to pick up a comprehensive victory here. RB Leipzig are no pushovers, but they are struggling without a number of their key players.
The gulf in class between the two teams is immense, and the away side are unlikely to be able to pull off an upset at the Etihad this week. A comfortable 3-0 win for Manchester City is on the cards.
