PICTURE: Man City to host RB tonight for a spot in the last eight of the Champions League. PICTURE: Getty Images
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0 MANCHESTER: City comes to this game as favourites, boasting an undefeated streak in Europe stretching over 20 games.
Manchester City will be gunning for the quarterfinal spot of the Champions League, at the expense of RB Leipzig, when the two sides tussle in the last 16-second leg encounter at the Etihad stadium in Manchester this evening. The sides played to a one-all draw in the first leg at the Red Bull Arena, Germany.
City comes to this game as favourites, boasting an undefeated streak in Europe stretching over 20 games, also City are chasing a record of making it past the last 16 of the competition since 2017. It will be tough for the Germans to beat the Citizens at home. Also, their form in all competitions is red hot while Leipzig is blowing hot and cold.
Pep Guardiola’s side will have the advantage of having the bulk of his top stars available for selection such as Riyad Mahrez, Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne, while RB will be without talisman Christopher Nkunku after the Frenchman sustained an injury.
Meanwhile, City will be banking on their forwards to do damage to the Bundesliga outfit. A match between these two sides can produce goals, as evident was the nine goals thriller in which the Citizens trounced Leipzig 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium two seasons ago.
The sky blues are still hunting for the elusive Champions League glory, the club came close in 2021, reaching the final of Europe’s premier club competition but unfortunately falling to fellow English Premiership rivals Chelsea in Portugal.
Red Bull Leipzig will not be sitting ducks in tonight’s clash as they also want to make their name in Europe and create their own history. The underdogs’ tag can very well suit the visiting Germans, as City will be under pressure to perform and put away their opposition, which might work against City. The game promises goals, but City are firm favourites to advance to the next round.
The Citizens’ form in all competitions gives them the edge, as they are also on the red pursuit of the English premier league title behind the resilient Arsenal side.
Another thing going for the Citizens is the psychological edge that no German side has won at the Etihad stadium since Pep Guardiola led Bayern Munich in the 2013/14 champions league season.
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