Man City vs RB Leipzig tips and predictions: Expect the visitors to score in end-to-end contest
- George Dempsey
- 27 November 2023
Manchester City can wrap up the group with a win over RB Leipzig at the Etihad on Tuesday night, but it won’t be plain sailing.
Manchester City’s perfect record means they’ve already qualified for the Champions League knockout phase but victory against a familiar foe would seal the group.
The 2023/24 season marks the third consecutive campaign the teams have been paired together and it’s City who lead by an aggregate score of 18-7.
Late goals from Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku, one of the world’s emerging talents, gave them all three points at the third time of asking in Leipzig.
It’s been a different story at the Etihad where Pep’s side has hit their poor German visitors for six and seven.
Such is the turnover of players with the Red Bull model, all four scorers from seasons past - Josko Gvardiol, Dominik Szoboszlai, Andre Silva and Christopher Nkunku - have moved on.
City haven’t really thrashed anyone in this year’s competition, winning each of their first three games 3-1 before finally shutting out a 10-man Young Boys on matchday four.
Leipzig have also done enough to qualify and given their form on the road this season, they’ll fancy their chances of making a better fist of this meeting.
A lot will depend on City’s motivation but on the evidence you’d back the visitors to get a goal and make a game of it
Team news
Kevin De Bruyne and Mateo Kovacic are ruled out but Matheus Nunes has returned to training and could be given a few minutes.
Erling Haaland has been a doubt in recent weeks so this could be an opportunity to rest him while John Stones may return to the midfield.
RB Leipzig are without key players Dani Olmo, Timo Werner, Benjamin Sesko and Willi Orban.
The electric Lois Openda scored in the first meeting between the teams and should partner Yussuf Poulsen in the attack.
Key stats
- Man City have beaten RB Leipzig 7-0 and 6-3 at the Etihad in previous seasons.
- Both teams have scored in all four of RB Leipzig’s Champions League matches.
- There have been over 2.5 goals in nine straight Champions League games at the Etihad.
- Erling Haaland has been involved in 17 goals in 13 Premier League games, while Lois Openda has had a hand in 12 in 12 in the Bundesliga.
