Manchester City welcome a dangerous Bayer Leverkusen side to the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League tonight, looking to rediscover some consistency after another league defeat.
Pep Guardiola has again overseen yet another tactical evolution at Manchester City, but their relentlessness from the past is now long gone. They have been improved this season and yet head into this one on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
Erik ten Hag was sacked a few weeks into the season and replaced by former Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand in charge of Bayer Leverkusen.
They have been improving as the season has gone on, in what is a transitional campaign, having eased to a 3-1 win against Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena the other day.
Can Manchester City edge closer to a top eight finish in the league phase or will Leverkusen spring a surprise in Manchester.? AllSportsPeople brings you the latest tips and odds for this clash in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester City vs. Bayer Leverkusen prediction: Who will win?
City will likely be a rotated outfit again this week, with Guardiola so keen on ensuring players retain strong fitness levels, but they will have to be wary about their own defensive susceptibility against a Leverkusen side that are growing at the moment.
City have to remain firm favourites, especially at the Etihad, but it would be no surprise to see a bit of a thriller this week with the Germans having a lot of quality and cohesion in the final third.
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Head-to-Head: Man City vs. Bayer Leverkusen
- This is the very first meeting between Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen.
Man City vs. Bayer Leverkusen: Form Guide
Man City – Last 5 Matches (All Competitions)
- Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester City (Premier League)
- Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
- Manchester City 4-1 Borussia Dortmund (UEFA Champions League)
- Manchester City 3-1 AFC Bournemouth (Premier League)
- Swansea City 1-3 Manchester City (EFL Cup)
Bayer Leverkusen – Last 5 Matches (All Competitions)
- Wolfsburg 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga)
- Bayer Leverkusen 6-0 Heidenheim (Bundesliga)
- Benfica 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen (UEFA Champions League)
- Bayern Munich 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga)
- Paderborn 2-4 Bayer Leverkusen (DFB-Pokal)
Man City vs. Bayer Leverkusen Score Prediction
Man City have found form at home with the likes of Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden beginning to find fluency in behind the irrepressible Erling Haaland, but the Cityzens are still some way off being the ruthless and trustworthy outfit of the past.
Leverkusen head to Manchester with a bit of confidence after their recent form and will believe they can bloody the nose of their English counterparts, but City remain favourites.
Score Prediction: Man City 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen (9.74 with Dafabet)
Man City vs. Bayer Leverkusen Team News
Man City Team News
- Manchester City have just a couple of injury absentees for this one with midfield duo Rodri and Mateo Kovacic remaining sidelined for the hosts.
- A bit of rotation is to be expected from Guardiola, with some of the older members of the squad, such as Bernardo Silva, likely to be rested.
- There could also be a bit of change at the back with full-back changes likely, with Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly potentially rotated out.
Bayer Leverkusen Team News
- Bayer Leverkusen have a couple of key suspension issues for this one as both Edmund Tapsoba and Robert Andrich are sidelined for the visitors.
- Experienced former Real Madrid man Lucas Vazquez is among those sidelined through injury, too, alongside both Ezequiel Fernandez and Exequiel Palacios.
- There will be an importance and a reliance on the likes of Ernest Poku and Malik Tillman to punish City on the counter-attack.
Man City vs. Bayer Leverkusen Lineups: Predicted starting XI's
This is how we think these two sides will lineup at the Etihad Stadium tonight, featuring a recall for England squad regular John Stones.
Man City predicted lineup to play Bayer Leverkusen
(4-1-4-1) Donnarumma (GK) — Lewis, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol – Gonzalez — Foden, Reijnders, Cherki, Doku – Haaland
Bayer Leverkusen predicted lineup to play Man City
(3-4-2-1) Flekken (GK) — Quansah, Bade, Belocian — Poku, Maza, Garcia, Grimaldo — Hofmann, Tillman – Schick
Man City vs. Bayer Leverkusen Betting Odds
- Man City to Win: 1.24 with Dafabet
- Bayer Leverkusen to Win: 11.55
- Draw: 7.10
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Man City vs. Bayer Leverkusen Live Stream, TV Channel
Here's all the key information on how to watch Man City vs. Bayer Leverkusen.
- Date: Wednesday, November 25
- Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
- Time: 1:30 a.m.
- TV/Stream: Sony LIV