Will Hasenhüttl’s side fight back against the threat of defeat?
15 of the last 16 competitive games have been won by Manchester City. The only exception was an inconsequential 2-1 defeat at RB Leipzig on matchday six of the Champions League preliminary round, when the Sky Blues were already certain group winners. The Citizens now come to the English south coast with a correspondingly broad chest.
However, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side have also impressed recently. The Saints have lost only one of their last six competitive games. Nevertheless, in the run-up to the match between Southampton and Manchester City, the odds are clearly in favour of the visitors, who are eleven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
It should be noted, however, that the Sky Blues have won three Premier League games in a row with a minimal goal difference. The Saints, who are in good form, can be expected to sell themselves dearly in a game in which there is nothing to lose.
With this in mind, the best bet for Southampton against Manchester City is on the Saints with an Asian handicap of +1.5. This includes not only any surprise point win for Hasenhüttl’s team, but also any defeat with only a one-goal difference.
Southampton – Statistics & current form
Southampton Football Club are not playing a major role in their tenth consecutive year in the Premier League. However, the Saints are not doing too badly either, although they have only managed to win five of their 21 league games.
On the other hand, they have only lost seven of their nine draws, which means that the club from the south coast of England, which has been coached by Ralph Hasenhüttl for more than three years now, currently sits in twelfth place in the table.
Comfortable eleven-point lead over a relegation spot
While the Premier League table is still skewed due to many match postponements, it should be treated with caution. With a current eleven-point lead over the first relegation place, the worry lines on the foreheads of those responsible should not be too pronounced.
With this in mind, the Saints can go into the home game against the undisputed league leaders largely without pressure, where a point would certainly be taken with the palm of one’s hand, but is by no means firmly planned. That was the attitude that earned Southampton a surprise point in the goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium in the first leg.
Unbeaten in seven Premier League home games
Still, the club from England’s south coast will go into the game as glaring underdogs.
But: Things have been going extremely well at home at St. Mary’s Stadium. Of the last seven home games in the Premier League, the Saints have not lost a single game (four wins, three draws).
Predicted line-up of Southampton:
Forster – Perraud – Salisu – Lyanco – Bednarek – Tella – Romeu – Diallo – Ward-Prowse – Broja – Redmond
Last matches played by Southampton:
Premier League
01/15 2022 – Wolverhampton 3 – 1 Southampton
01/11 2022 – Southampton 4 – 1 Brentford
FA Cup
01/08 2022 – Swansea 2 – 3 Southampton
Premier League
12/28 2021 – Southampton 1 – 1 Tottenham
12/26 2021 – West Ham 2 – 3 Southampton
Manchester City – Statistics & current form
Manchester City are heading towards defending their Premier League title with vigour. However, after losing the Champions League final and the Community Shield against FA Cup winners Leicester, Pep Guardiola’s side started the new season cautiously.
After a short time, however, the form curve pointed upwards again in all its form. Since a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace last October, the Sky Blues have not lost a single league match.
Twelve league games won in a row
Instead, the Citizens have won all of their last twelve league games in a row, securing a maximum haul of 36 points in that period on 34 goals to 7. This means they have picked up 13 more points from the last twelve league games than any other team in the Premier League.
The Guardiola team’s lead in the standings is correspondingly clear, and they already have an eleven-point advantage over their main rivals Liverpool. Just last weekend, they also beat Champions League winners Chelsea 1-0 and kept them at bay.
Not scored in two of last four games against Southampton
There is a lot to suggest that Southampton vs Manchester City tip 2 will work out, with the Sky Blues extending their recent winning streak on England’s south coast and securing win number 13 in a row.
However, the Citizens have failed to score in two of their last four league games against the Saints. In view of the fact that the last three Premier League games were all won by just one goal difference, a surprising point win for Hasenhüttl’s team like in the first leg (0:0) is not completely out of the question.
Predicted Manchester City line-up:
Ederson – Cancelo – Laporte – Stones – Walker – Rodri – Silva – Grealish – De Bruyne – Sterling – Foden
Last matches played by Manchester City:
Premier League
01/15 2022 – Manchester City 1 – 0 Chelsea London
FA Cup
01/07 2022 – Swindon 1 – 4 Manchester City
Premier League
01/01 2022 – Arsenal London 1 – 2 Manchester City
12/29 2021 – Brentford 0 – 1 Manchester City
12/26 2021 – Manchester City 6 – 3 Leicester
Southampton – Manchester City Direct comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 32 – 26 – 38
There have been a total of 96 meetings between the two teams so far and the Citizens lead the head-to-head comparison with 38 wins. In their last ten Premier League encounters alone, the Sky Blues have won eight (one draw, one defeat). The first leg, however, ended in a goalless draw.
Southampton – Manchester City Tip
When it comes to Southampton against Manchester City, the prediction is basically very clearly in the direction of the visitors, who are the absolute measure of things in the Premier League with twelve consecutive wins in league action. However, in-form Saints, who are unbeaten in seven home league games, can go into the game with confidence. After all, Southampton surprisingly held on for a 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium.
With a view to the first leg and the fact that the Sky Blues have “only” won their last three league games with a minimal goal difference, we recommend betting on the Saints with an Asian handicap of +1.5.
For the Hasenhüttl team to lose by a maximum of one goal difference, betting odds of 2.12 are available for this tip on Southampton against Manchester City.
