RB Leipzig’s impressive home form gives them hope of reviving their UEFA Champions League (UCL) campaign as Manchester City arrive on the back of successive domestic league defeats.
Match News and Current Form
Leipzig have lost two of their three UCL games this term, both 4-1 away from home to Como and Real Madrid respectively (W1), leaving them outside of the top 24. As the Red Bulls seek improvement, their form here should give them plenty of encouragement as they’ve won all five competitive home games this term without conceding, scoring 19 times in the process. A run of ten consecutive victories at the Red Bull Arena should also build confidence as they seek three straight UCL home wins for the first time since a sequence of four between March and December 2020.
Manchester City started the season superbly before losing momentum through successive Premier League defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton, who they needed penalties to beat in the League Cup in midweek. The Cityzens are three points ahead of Leipzig in the UCL league phase (W2, L1) having bounced back from their 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain by thrashing AEK Athens 5-1, but winning just eight of their last 20 games in this competition (D2, L10) is hardly the kind of form expected of a side hoping to go all the way. Their recent European away record is equally unconvincing, winning only three of their last ten away UCL fixtures (D1, L6), although they did beat Porto 2-0 on the road in September in their last such outing.
Head-to-Head History
Manchester City have won four of the six previous H2Hs (D1, L1), with those fixtures producing an average of five goals per game. Leipzig have lost five successive matches against English opposition, while City are unbeaten in four visits to Germany (W1, D3).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Leipzig haven’t scored more than once in any of their last four UCL fixtures, their longest such sequence in the competition.
None of Leipzig's last 25 group/league phase matches ended level (W12, L13).
Seven of City’s last eight competitive fixtures produced over 9.5 corners.
Manchester City conceded five goals between the 16th and 30th minutes across their last four away UCL games.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Antonio Nusa has five goal contributions (G1, A4) across Leipzig’s last three fixtures, with all five of his goals for the club this term coming in wins to nil. Fellow Norwegian Erling Haaland has scored 12 goals in eight appearances against Leipzig, scoring a joint-personal best six against them in this competition alone.
Maxime Estève missed Leipzig’s 2-0 win at Schalke on Saturday with a knock, while Manchester City were only missing Antoine Semenyo at the weekend.
Betting Analysis
Leipzig’s ten straight wins here contrast with Manchester City’s stuttering form, making backing Leipzig/Draw in the double chance market worth considering.
Author: John Pennington
