Will City take the next step towards the championship?
In the 35th matchday, Leeds United host the current league leaders at Elland Road. Jesse March’s men are in a strong run of form. Robin Koch and co. remained unbeaten for five games in a row. Whether Leeds can keep up this streak against the outstanding Skyblues and thus make a decisive impact on the championship battle in England is eagerly awaited.
For Pep Guardiola’s men, the formula is pretty simple. Win every remaining game to maintain their slender lead over Liverpool FC and claim the eighth English championship in the club’s history and the second in a row.
After the spectacular first leg in the Champions League during the week, it remains to be seen how fit the Citizens will be going into the game against Leeds. What is clear, however, is that they are already balancing this double burden of cup competitions and league action well throughout the season. For Leeds it is one of the highlight games. Especially in view of their own situation in the table, they still need every point to avoid relegation. In the duel between Leeds and Manchester City, the betting odds are logically in favour of the visitors.
Leeds – Statistics & current form
At home Leeds always looked good against Man City
Although Leeds United start the game as clear underdogs against Manchester City given their situations in the table, March’s eleven can look back on relatively good home statistics from their last nine games at Elland Road against the Skyblues. Only two of those matches were lost, with six wins and one draw. Even though most of the games were played a while ago, as Leeds played in a lower division for a long time, you can take heart from this. They last played De Bruyne and co. at home in October 2020 and managed a draw. Nevertheless, the first leg from this season will still be very present when they went down 7-0 away at City.
One drop of bitterness remains, however. In the last six home games, Leeds remained without a win against the reigning champions. Their last win came in 1999, when they beat Arsenal 1-0.
In addition, they seem unable to play to nil at home. Leeds have conceded at least one goal in their last nine home games and are only beaten by Watford in the league. Against City’s offensive power, this is probably not the best prerequisite. Accordingly, the bookmakers believe that Leeds vs. Manchester City will be a high-scoring game based on their betting odds. Nevertheless, Leeds can go three games in a row without conceding a goal on the coming matchday for the first time since August 2002. However, the last two appearances were away from home.
Big changes in personnel are basically always possible against Manchester City. Nevertheless, Leeds are in good form at the moment and consequently don’t have too many reasons to change much. A game in which they can rely on quick counters suits their style of play and Jesse March’s idea.
Predicted Leeds line-up:
Meslier – Dallas, Cooper, Llorente, Ayling – Klich, Phillips – Harrison, Rodrigo, Raphinha – James
Last matches played by Leeds:
Premier League
26/04/2022 – Crystal Palace 0 – 0 Leeds
09/04/2022 – Watford 0 – 3 Leeds
02/04/2022 – Leeds 1 – 1 Southampton
19/03/2022 – Wolverhampton 2 – 3 Leeds
13/03/2022 – Leeds 2 – 1 Norwich
Manchester City – Statistics & current form
Will Leeds become number four?
City are looking to record two wins over Leeds in the same season for the first time since 1982. Furthermore, there have been three teams in the club’s history against whom they have scored ten or more goals in a season. Leeds could join them. Nevertheless, the title race with Liverpool FC comes first. For that reason alone, Manchester City will be going full throttle in every game.
To continue their outstanding run and win the record
City are unbeaten away from home since matchday one. 12 wins and three draws have been recorded since then. In addition, keeper Ederson has kept a clean sheet in the last four games away from home. Five consecutive games away from home without conceding a goal would be a new club record.
Mahrez, De Bruyne and Jesus back together again?
For that, Pep Guardiola is likely to rely on his outstanding attacking duo of Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne again. The Algerian was directly involved in twelve goals in the last nine games (eight goals & four assists). KDB is in no way inferior to him. He has set up four goals and scored four himself in each of the last six games. Even though rotation is possible due to the Champions League during the week, the two are expected to be in the starting line-up. They are particularly responsible for Leeds vs Manchester City odds being so low on over 2.5 goals.
Completing this duo recently was Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, who contributed four goals and an assist in the last home game against Watford. He also scored against Real Madrid last Tuesday and is in excellent form. Whether he will start for Leeds remains to be seen, however, as Raheem Sterling is expected to be in the starting line-up.
Predicted line-up of Manchester City:
Ederson – Fernandinho, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko – Rodri, Gündogan, De Bruyne – Mahrez, Sterling, Foden
Last matches played by Manchester City:
Champions League Final
27/04/2022 – Manchester City 4 – 3 Real Madrid
Premier League
23/04/2022 – Manchester City 5 – 1 Watford
21/04/2022 – Manchester City 3 – 0 Brighton
FA Cup
16/04/2022 – Manchester City 2 – 3 Liverpool FC
Champions League Final
14/04/2022 – Atletico Madrid 0 – 0 Manchester City
Leeds – Manchester City Direct comparison / H2H record
The direct comparison is a bit skewed in this duel. Most of the duels were half an eternity ago. Since City have been so dominant, the two teams have only met three times. All the other games were more than 15 years ago. Nevertheless, Leeds were able to hold their own in these three games and still managed to pick up four points.
Leeds – Manchester Tip
It’s still all about everything for Leeds. The traditional club wants to avoid relegation with all its might after only two seasons in the Premier League. To do so, they need points against the outstanding Skyblues.
Manchester City, on the other hand, are currently in the weeks of truth. With the semi-final second leg in Madrid already in the back of their minds, they now have to master the daily grind in the Premier League to keep chasing Liverpool behind them.
This duel is of great importance for both teams. In view of the many goals conceded in front of the home crowd at Leeds, we see a great chance of many goals and therefore recommend betting on over 3.5 goals for Leeds vs Manchester City. For this we bet 6 Units.
