Manchester City will host Feyenoord at the Etihad in a UEFA Champions League clash on Tuesday, looking to end their horrendous run of form.
Manchester City are going through a slump right now, and they have lost five matches in a row across all competitions ahead of the visit of Feyenoord. Pep Guardiola is under tremendous pressure, and the Spaniard will be hoping to get his team firing once again.
The Premier League champions are one of the best teams in the world, and they are expected to win major trophies. Manchester City cannot hope to do so in their current form. It remains to be seen whether they can bounce back strongly.
Meanwhile, Feyenoord will be fully aware of Manchester City’s vulnerabilities right now, and they will look to pull off an upset. The Dutch outfit have picked up two wins from four matches in the UEFA Champions League so far, and they are coming into this game on the back of a defeat against Salzburg. It remains to be seen whether they can upset the odds.
Feyenoord have picked up two wins from the last two outings, and they will be reasonably confident heading into this game against Manchester City. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the upcoming UEFA Champions League fixture.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Manchester City will be without Rodri due his season-ending knee issue. Ruben Dias has a muscle injury, and Oscar Bobb is out with a leg injury. The home side will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ederson Moraes in goal.
Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol will be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to help out defensively and contribute during transitions as well. Manuel Akanji will start in the central defensive partnership alongside John Stones.
As for the midfield unit, Ilkay Gundogan will start alongside Mateo Kovacic in the double pivot. They will look to add creativity and control to the side. Kevin De Bruyne will be deployed in the number ten role, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities with his passing and vision. Savinho and Jeremy Doku will start on the flanks. Erling Haaland will lead the line for Manchester City against Feyenoord.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Stones, Gvardiol; Gundogan, Kovacic; Savinho, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland
Feyenoord
The visitors have multiple injury problems heading into this game, and they will be without Hugo Bueno, Ibrahim Osman and Jordan Lotomba due to undisclosed injuries. Ayase Ueda has a hip injury, and Santiago Gimenez is sidelined with a similar problem.
Feyenoord will start in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Manchester City, with Timon Wellenreuther in goal. Givairo Read and David Hancko will start in the full-back roles, and they will look to protect the central defenders and keep things compact at the back. Gernot Trauner and Thomas Beelen will start at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Antoni Milambo and Ramiz Zerrouki will start in the double pivot. They will look to provide defensive, cover to the side and break down the opposition’s attacking moves.
Anis Hadj-Moussa and Igor Paixao will start on the flanks, and they will look to add pace and flair to the attack. Finally, Julian Carranza will lead the line for Feyenoord against Manchester City, with Hwang In-beom behind him in the hole.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Wellenreuther; Read, Trauner, Beelen, Hancko; Milambo, Zerrouki; Moussa, In-Beom, Paixao; Carranza
Key Stats
- Both Manchester City and Feyenoord have picked up two wins from four matches in the Champions League this season.
- Manchester City have lost five of their last six matches in all competitions.
- Feyenoord have picked up four wins from the last six matches in all competitions.
- Manchester City have conceded 14 goals in the last five matches in all competitions.
- Feyenoord have scored 11 goals in the last four matches in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City have been quite disappointing in recent weeks, and they have struggled to create ample goalscoring opportunities. The Belgian playmaker is our key player to watch out for. Apart from his quality with the ball, his leadership and experience could prove to be vital here. Kevin De Bruyne will have to step up and help his side get their season back on track.
Prediction
Manchester City 3-0 Feyenoord
The Premier League champions will be thoroughly disappointed with their performances in recent weeks, and they will be desperate to bounce back strongly. This is a golden opportunity to grind out a good result at home without being under too much pressure.
On paper, Manchester City are a significantly better side compared to the opposition, and they should be able to pick up a comprehensive win here. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Pep Guardiola and his charges.
