Man City v RB Leipzig – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Man City face RB Leipzig City won 3-1 in the reverse fixture and also thrashed the Red Bulls 7-0 in this competition a year ago. The hosts sit first in Group G with 12 points with Marco Rose’s Leipzig side sitting on nine points.

Man City Form

Man City have dropped points in successive league matches, drawing 4-4 vs Chelsea after leading three times and then surrendering another lead in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home with Liverpool. City outshot the Reds 16-8 and had 60% possession. Prior to those draws, City had won five successive fixtures with 17 goals scored along the way.

Pep Guardiola’s side thrashed Man Utd 3-0 away with 4.00 xG produced before a 6-1 humbling of Bournemouth. Young Boys were swatted aside in 3-0 success at the Etihad Stadium on matchday four in the Champions League as City made it a perfect 12 points in Europe.

Man City Team News

Pep Guardiola remains without key man Kevin De Bruyne. John Stones isn’t fit enough to start whilst Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes are out injured. Jack Grealish missed the Liverpool game due to illness.

There could be a little rotation considering that the coach made no subs on Saturday. Rico Lewis could get a start in midfield and Josko Gvardiol is a prime candidate to play at the back. Sergio Gomez is another who may get a rare outing.

Man City Motivation

City will secure the top spot in the group if they win this match. They will look to sew up first place and have matchday six as a dead rubber.

Guardiola’s side will look to attack and win the game early before trying to take off a couple of key players.

RB Leipzig Form

The Red Bulls won seven of their first eight matches this season including 3-0 vs Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup and 3-1 at Young Boys on matchday one. Their 11 matches since then have seen four defeats and they’ve been beaten in three of their last five fixtures. One loss in that run was the 3-1 setback at home to Man City on matchday two.

Despite some troubles domestically, RB Leipzig beat Red Star Belgrade home and away in their last two Champions League matches, 3-1 at home and 2-1 away. The latter victory was preceded by a 1-0 DFB Pokal loss at Wolfsburg and a 2-0 Bundesliga loss at Mainz. Before the FIFA break, they beat Freiburg 3-1, but they lost 2-1 at Wolfsburg in the league on Saturday.

RB Leipzig Team News

Marco Rose is without four players for this match. Timo Werner has a groin injury and Dani Olmo remains absent with a shoulder problem. Centre-back Willi Orban hasn’t played since September and young defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu is ruled out.

Emil Forsberg is pushing for a recall in a wide area and so is defender Lukas Klostermann. Former captain Peter Gulacsi is fit again in goal after a long-term injury, but he is currently playing second fiddle to Janis Blaswich. Benjamin Sesko is very doubtful in attack but probably wouldn’t have started.

RB Leipzig Motivation

RB Leipzig have already qualified. Even a draw for City would seal the top spot so there is less edge to this match.

Marco Rose’s side will look to give a good account of themselves but even a narrow defeat wouldn’t be a big deal.

Key Stats

Man City have won 5 of their last 7 matches

City have scored 10 goals in their last 2 matches vs RB Leipzig

Man City are unbeaten in 23 UCL matches in 90 minutes

RB Leipzig have lost 3 of their last 5 matches

3 of the last 5 meetings between these teams have seen Both Teams Score

Verdict

This match is tough to predict because both sides have qualified. City should have too much, but we should see both teams on target. Check the Man City starting XI before backing any goalscoring markets.