Having missed the chance to equal the longest-ever winning home run by an English top-division side against Liverpool at the weekend (D 1-1), Manchester City make a swift return home seeking to start another streak of victories. It was the first time in a while the City fans hadn’t had much to shout about, but even still, boss Pep Guardiola took the unusual step to ask for “more noise” from the home fans ahead of the visit of RB Leipzig.
While he’s keen to make the Etihad a more daunting place to visit, his side have been doing a good enough job of that themselves as they’re unbeaten in 28 European home matches (W26, D2). Already assured of a spot in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) knockouts, Manchester City know simply extending that home record here will be enough to win their group for the seventh successive season.
Like Manchester City, RB Leipzig are already through to the UCL knockouts and are now vying for top spot with their hosts. Needing to win here to realistically have any chance of securing that placing due to H2H being UEFA’s first tiebreaking decider, a 2-1 defeat to Wolfsburg at the weekend certainly wasn’t ideal preparation, although boss Marco Rose felt the result was perhaps a little harsh amidst some VAR decisions working against his team.
Rose will know all too well he’ll need everything working in his side’s favour if they’re to pull off an upset here, but still bearing the psychological scars of a 7-0 defeat here last season, it’s perhaps not favours RB Leipzig need here, but more of a miracle. Such results are few and far between, and it’s hard to see RB Leipzig getting one in England given their last three visits all ended in defeats by at least a three-goal margin.
Players to watch: Having netted at the weekend, Erling Haaland will be keen to build upon his haul against RB Leipzig side who he netted five against in Manchester City’s 7-0 win here last season. Loïs Openda netted in this season’s reverse fixture, and both his UCL goals this term have been the second of the game.
Hot stat: Manchester City have scored at least three times in their last seven UCL home games.
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