Manchester City-Lipsia is a Champions League round of 16 return match, to be played on Tuesday at 21:00: TV, line-ups, predictions.
In the first leg, staged three weeks ago now, a goal from Gvardiol stopped Pep Guardiola’s team. Beyond the curious assonance between the surnames of the Croatian defender and the Catalan coach, beating Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena proved more difficult than expected, even for a powerhouse of Manchester City’s calibre, now obliged to win (with any result) in the return match.
Mahrez’s goal midway through the first half was not enough to break the Germans’ resistance. The Algerian national’s goal looked like it could have been the prelude to a goleada, but Haaland and his team-mates, after finding the lead, lowered the engine revs and missed a few too many goals. And keeping a fearsome team like Leipzig in sight is never a good idea. It was a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium, a stadium that in the Champions League is a real fortress for the Citizens, who have not lost at home for 23 matches, winning 21 of them. If they manage to avoid defeat again they will equal Arsenal’s unbeaten streak, the longest by an English club in the history of the cup with the big ears. Since their clash with Marco Rose’s men, meanwhile, City have never stopped winning, with four Premier League and FA Cup victories in a row and Guardiola’s side’s goal unbeaten in the last three.
Citizens nightmare for Rose
On Saturday a penalty from the relentless Haaland (28 goals in 26 games) secured Guardiola’s three points in the away match with Crystal Palace in London, allowing Manchester City to stay -5 off leaders Arsenal.
Werner
It was also a positive weekend for Leipzig, who immediately bounced back after the defeat in the direct clash with Borussia Dortmund, which probably ousted them permanently from the title fight. The 3-0 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach, however, was crucial to consolidate the third place, which they occupy in cohabitation with Union Berlin and Freiburg. The race for the Champions League spot, in short, remains fierce. Leipzig has not lost for five matches in the most important continental event and is close to its longest unbeaten streak (seven matches). For Rose, however, Manchester City represents a real nightmare. The German coach in the last three seasons has always gone out in the round of 16 against the Citizens, leading two different teams (Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund).
Manchester City-Leipzig: the latest line-up news
Guardiola will be able to field the best possible line-up in the round of 16 against Leipzig. The only doubt was over the condition of Foden, who suffered a foot problem following the match against Crystal Palace. Compared to the last league match, De Bruyne will also be back: along with the captain will be Grealish and Mahrez, as well as Bernardo Silva and Gundogan. A Manchester City with offensive traction to make things clear from the start.
Leipzig, on the other hand, will be missing a lot of important players. They will once again have to do without their goal scorer Nkunku, who is out with a hamstring problem. Schlager will also be missing along with long-suffering Dani Olmo, Gulacsi and Diallo. André Silva and Werner will play in attack, supported in the three-quarter by Szoboszlai and Forsberg.
The Prediction
In the fortress of the Etihad Stadium Leipzig should not be able to avoid defeat this time against a Manchester City side who are likely to assert their superiority. It is very likely that the Citizens will break through in the first half, as they have always done in the last eight matches. At least three goals in total cannot be ruled out.
The Manchester City-Leipzig line-up probables
- MANCHESTER CITY (3-4-2-1): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Rúben Dias; Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Grealish; Gündoğan, De Bruyne; Haaland.
- LIPSIA (4-2-2): Blaswich; Henrichs, Orbán, Gvardiol, Raum; Laimer, Kampl; Szoboszlai, Forsberg; Werner, André Silva.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
