Man City - Leicester: Don't stumble

The 3-0 victory over Bayern in the middle of last week helped Man City put one foot in the Champions League semi-finals, thereby safely focusing on the match against Leicester tonight. Despite being six points behind Arsenal, Pep Guardiola's teachers and students are still on the verge of winning the Premier League, playing one game less and still having a direct confrontation with the Gunners.

Coach Dean Smith, who has just been appointed to replace Brendan Rodgers, certainly does not want to meet Man City in the first game to manage Leicester. Previously, the former Norwich and Aston Villa manager had all lost in five matches against Guardiola, with a total score of 2-17.

While Man City won the last 10 matches and conceded only four goals, Leicester lost eight and drew one. Man City ranked second from the top, and Leicester ranked second from the bottom with just two points above the bottom team Southampton. With such form, it is difficult for the visitors to repeat the minimum loss like in the first leg, let alone win points at the Etihad, where Man City earn an average of 2.64 points per game this season.

The biggest difference in the upcoming second leg compared to the first game in October is Erling Haaland. Without Haaland in the first leg, Man City only reached the expected number of goals (xG) of 1.03 and needed Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick to win three points.

Haaland, who has scored an average of 73 minutes in the tournament, is expected to add 30 goals against Leicester's uncertain defence. No team in the tournament has a longer conceding streak than Leicester - the team has never kept a clean sheet since the 2022 World Cup.

Leicester will lose defenders Jannik Vestergaard, Ricardo Pereira, James Justin, Ryan Bertrand and detonator Harvey Barnes for the trip to the Etihad. Man City is only absent Phil Foden due to an appendectomy at the end of last month. Kevin De Bruyne, who has just reached 100 assists in the Premier League in the last round, is likely to still start even though he is not in the best shape.

Opta assesses Man City's chance of winning the match up to 75%. Certainly, teachers and students Pep Guardiola not only aim for three points, but also a bold victory to consolidate the advantage of difference in the competition with Arsenal. That also helps Man City pillars get an early break to prepare for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final at Bayern.