UCL Preview: Manchester City Vs RB Leipzig
Written By Jacobs Dunga
Three months after losing out in the final to Thomas Tuchel led Chelsea side at the Wembley stadium, Pep Guardiola and his team will hope to go one better this time but first they have to show that in the first game as they take on RB Leipzig from Germany in the opening game of group A.
Leipzig got the better of an English side in the group stages of last season to qualify as the second placed team from group H, but their qualification over Manchester United in the group stages was duly avenged by Liverpool in the second round as they lost both legs by two goals to nothing for a 4-0 aggregate loss which brought their run to an end.
TEAM NEWS
Manchester City are without a recognized striker following the departure of Sergio Aguero to Barcelona but Spanish youngster Ferran Torres has proven to Pep that he can be relied upon with two goals and an assist already in four premier league games.
Gabriel Jesus has found a new role on the right side of the attack contributing three assists from his new role while Bernardo Silva is proving the decision to keep him is the right one.
Benjamin Mendy continues to be out due to an alleged rape case and is facing trials while Zack Steffen is also ruled out.
Phil Foden remains a doubt for the fixture with Grealish set to shine on his European debut.
Dominik Szoboszlai seems the only bright spot in a season that has started badly for Leipzig with two Bundesliga goals to his name.
Dani Olmo played his first game on the weekend after an extended break. He’ll be expected to provide the spark that has been missing so far for Leipzig this season.
Konrad Laimar scored from 35 yards against Bayern over the weekend and will hope to get another chance against City.
STYLE
Manchester City are known for their possession football with much of their attacks coming from the wings in a 4-3-3 formation. They also have in their ranks midfielders who are capable of scoring from outside should they come up against defensively compact sides.
Jesse Marsch’s Leipzig play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a lone striker upfront with three attack minded players behind the striker. They have adopted the double pivot system to help prevent fast breaks against them as they’re known to attack in numbers and at a very high pace.
FORM
City have been in a blistering form since losing their first league game to Tottenham winning the next two by consecutive five nil victories followed by some nil triumph over Leicester over the weekend.
Jesse Marsch hasn’t found it easy in his new surroundings losing three of the opening four Bundesliga games including a 1-4 drubbing at the hands of Bayern Munich over the weekend. They can as well score goals on their day as they’ve put four past Stuttgart and Sandhausen already this season.
HEAD TO HEAD
Both teams are yet to meet in an official game but in 27 encounters against German oppositions there have been 17 wins and 7 defeats for the English champions.
Leipzig thus have a respectable record against English sides having won three of six meetings while losing the other three. They have won twice on their travels to England.
PROBABLE LINE UPS
Man City: Ederson – Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo – Silva, Rodri, Gündogan (c) – Mahrez, Torres, Grealish
Out: Mendy (suspended), Steffen (not included)
Doubtful: De Bruyne (ankle), Foden (foot)
Coach: Pep Guardiola
Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) – Klostermann, Orban, Simakan, Angelino – Laimer, Haidara – Szoboszlai, Olmo, Nkunku – Silva
Out: Saracchi (knee)
Doubtful: Halstenberg (ankle)
Coach: Jesse Marsch
VERDICT
City to win without conceding
4-0
Do you have a story tip?
Kindly Email: keepup@bettitude.com
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube
About Author
