Manchester City vs Leicester – Match preview and team news

The Football Faithful

·2 aprile 2025

Manchester City vs Leicester – Match preview and team news

Manchester City welcome a struggling Leicester City side to the Etihad Stadium this evening.

At the weekend, Pep Guardiola’s side sealed their place in the semi-final of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth.

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However, amidst the elation of progression, there was a major casualty from the battle. Top scorer Erling Haaland damaged his ankle and now faces approximately six weeks on the treatment table. With the end of the campaign fast approaching, the 24-year-old will be determined to recover and participate in the Club World Cup which commences in the summer.

Time for @PremierLeague action! 🩵
– mercoledì 2 aprile 2025

Haaland joins Manuel Akanji and John Stones on the recovery list, with Nathan Ake, Rodri and Oscar Bobb also still unavailable.

Savinho was missing from the squad on Sunday after being granted time off for the birth of his first child. The 20-year-old is expected to be back in contention tonight.

Leicester City need to perform a miracle if they are to avoid an immediate return to the Championship. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side have lost 13 of their last 14 Premier League matches and have only won twice on the road all season.

There’s only one availability concern within the camp as Ricardo Pereira is doubtful with a hamstring issue. Abdul Fatawu is a definite absentee, but his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury is going according to plan.

Manchester City vs Leicester City – Match preview and team news

Form

Manchester City: WWLDW

Manchester City are in the final four of the FA Cup for the seventh straight season after coming from behind to beat Bournemouth.

However, the tie couldn’t have started any worse. Erling Haaland’s penalty was saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga before Evanilson opened the scoring for the home side.

However, the introduction of City academy graduate Nico O’Reilly at the interval made a significant impact on proceedings. The 20-year-old assisted both Haaland and Omar Marmoush to help his side complete a comeback. A clash with Nottingham Forest at Wembley awaits them at the end of April.

In the Premier League, Manchester City are sitting in fifth position. The current projected coefficient rankings indicate that would be enough to qualify for the Champions League next season.

However, they face stiff competition from the teams around them, with Brighton and Newcastle in particular piling the pressure on the reigning champions.

Leicester: LLLLL

Leicester have lost each of their last seven matches and have only scored one goal in that period.

After Wolves beat West Ham on Tuesday, the Foxes are now 12 points adrift of safety with just nine games to play.

When Steve Cooper was relieved of his duties in November, the club were sat in 16th position. Five months later, they have picked up just seven more points and have slipped to 19th.

Only Southampton, who are rooted to the bottom of the table, have recorded fewer goals and conceded more times than Leicester this term.

Last Meeting: Leicester 0-2 Manchester City, Premier League, 29th December 2024

Manchester City ended 2024 with an unconvincing 2-0 victory away to a spirited Leicester City.

After enduring three consecutive losses, the hosts were understandably short of confidence. Pep Guardiola’s players capitalised on that fragility and were cutting the opposition open at will.

Second-choice goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk was called into action inside the opening ten minutes. Kevin De Bruyne expertly pulled the ball back to Erling Haaland, whose firm strike tested the Polish stopper.

Against the run of play, Leicester had an opportunity to open the scoring. Josko Gvardiol’s unconvincing header allowed Jamie Vardy to reclaim possession. However, the veteran’s heavy first touch tightened the angle and Stefan Ortega recovered swiftly to block the attempt.

Midway through the first period, Savinho recorded his first goal in English football to break the deadlock. Phil Foden’s speculative effort from range was clumsily parried into the path of the Brazilian who emphatically converted the rebound.

Haaland continued to cause problems for the Leicester defence and came desperately close to doubling the deficit. After slaloming past a number of blue shirts, the striker placed a shot inches wide of the post.

Despite Manchester City’s dominance, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team still had chances. Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte directed a header onto the upright with Ortega stranded, while Manuel Akanji heroically blocked James Justin’s improvised attempt on the line. Vardy had the most presentable opportunity but crucially lifted a shot over the crossbar following Stephy Mavididi’s precise pick-out.

The Premier League holders then secured the full complement of points through Haaland. Second-half substitute James McAtee evaded the attention of a few defenders with neat footwork before finding Savinho. The goalscorer turned provider for his teammate with a delicate cross that was gleefully dispatched.

It was a tough result for the Foxes to take after spurning multiple openings.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester City: Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Kovacic, Gonzalez; Doku, De Bruyne, Savinho; Marmoush.

Leicester: Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Coady, Okoli, Kristiansen; Ndidi, Soumare; Buonanotte, El Khannouss, Vardy.

Who is the referee?

Darren England will be the match official. Gary Beswick and Natalie Aspinall will assist him while Dean Whitestone will be the fourth official. The VAR will be James Bell and he will be assisted by Marc Perry.