Champions League: City Step Up Quest for Euro Grail

RB Leipzig vs Manchester City

There are some football critics who say Manchester City have to win the Champions League to be considered a great team.

I disagree completely – winning your domestic league in four of the past five years secures their place in that regard.

Yet I do agree that, given the investment in the club since the 2008 takeover, it will be an underachievement if they cannot add a European title to their raft of domestic silverware.

It would also leave a question mark over their manager Pep Guardiola who has failed to win the trophy since his Barcelona days when, yes he worked wonders, but had already inherited one of the best sides around.

Indeed, the Spanish coach recently admitted his time at the club would be incomplete without success in this tournament.

So, on Wednesday night as they try again in pursuit of a trophy many of their fans crave, are we about to witness Champions League 2023 highlights in Leipzig?

Talking Points

City certainly arrive in Germany in good form and dominating matches, even if their draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday in the Premier League was scant consolation for the way they controlled the contest.

In that match they enjoyed 73% possession and 23 shots, yet the 1-1 draw meant they have now failed to win four of their last five away matches in all competitions, while they have dropped seven points in as many Premier League games, leaving them two points adrift of leaders Arsenal – ironically, the side they defeated away from home last week.

This season marks 10 consecutive years in which the club has been competing in the Champions League knockout rounds and they remain undefeated this term after winning four and drawing two of their six group-stage matches to top Group G, ahead of Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Copenhagen.

With the exception of centre -back John Stones who remains out with a hamstring injury, Guardiola has a fully-fit squad at his disposal.

Despite a raft of options including Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake, Bernardo Silva could continue in a makeshift left-back role, drifting into a deep-lying midfield position alongside Rodri when City are in possession.

The in-form Riyad Mahrez was a sub at the weekend but is likely to be recalled, probably at the expense of either Phil Foden or Jack Grealish, while Erling Braut Haaland – who has scored six goals in four previous meetings against Leipzig – is set to lead the line.

Just as City are in a decent place in their domestic league, so are Leipzig.

Wednesday’s hosts have been piling on the pressure at the top of the Bundesliga in recent weeks and currently lie fifth, just four points off top spot.

They have mixed news on the availability front.

Peter Gulacsi (ACL), Dani Olmo (thigh) and Abdou Diallo (knee) all remain out but exciting talent Christopher Nkunku made his long-awaited return after three months on the sidelines last week and, at the very least, should be on the bench again.

Likewise, Konrad Laimer who managed to shake off a thigh concern to be included in their win at Wolfsburg.

Highly rated centre-back Josko Gvardiol, who caught the eye at the World Cup, is set to continue alongside Willi Orban.

If Nkunku is not risked from the outset, Andre Silva could continue up front with support provided in the final third by Timo Werner, Emil Forsberg and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Werner, of course, was part of the Leipzig team that reached the 2020 Champions League semi-finals, before winning the competition with Chelsea the following season – against City.

The visitors start as favourites but they will need to take their opportunities, something they have failed to do to their cost at times this season.

History

These sides met for the very first time at the group stages of last season’s tournament.

City enjoyed a thrilling 6-3 victory against Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium in September 2021.

Nathan Ake, Riyad Mahrez (penalty), Jack Grealish, Joao Cancelo and Gabriel Jesus, plus an own goal, were on target, yet in many ways Nkunku was the attacking star with a hat-trick for Leipzig, who were then managed by Jesse Marsch (recently of Leeds United).

Marsch had been replaced by the time of the return game in Germany.

City had already qualified and were beaten 2-1 as Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and Portugal forward Andre Silva netted for the home side.

Betting Tip

As in virtually all of their games, City are favourites and the SBOTOP Champions League 2023 betting odds concur.

I do think this will be close but the top team in England should have too much and will be keen to make their mark. Therefore, my three-star prediction is City by -0.75 on the Asian Handicap market.

 

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