Manchester City FC
Leicester City
Leicester City
Exciting early season clash sees Man City face in-form Leicester
Man City to win 2-1
Man City boss Pep Guardiola claims to have only “13 senior players” fit for this weekend’s huge early season clash against Leicester.
Many of those players are world class, no doubt, but he will need his youth players to help fill the gaps. Whichever team is available to him, they will play exactly the same way as always – to attack and score goals.
Leicester have been fantastic again this season. After two games they sit top of the Premier League on goal difference and seem to go from strength to strength under Brendan Rodgers.
They are also the league’s top scorers, with seven goals, and have shown over the past couple of seasons that they can be a real threat to the biggest clubs.
City are a week behind in terms of their preparation, having started the season seven days behind most of the other clubs. However they showed in their win against Wolves that they’re here to challenge for the title again.
They should be a cracker.
Predicted 2020/21 finish: 1st
Reasons to be cheerful:
Played fantastically in win over strong Wolves team
Have beaten Leicester in 8 of last 9 meetings
Reasons to be fearful:
Missing several key players through injury
Energetic Leicester side will expose any defensive weaknesses
When Pep Guardiola says he is worried about the state of his squad following several injuries, we should usually take it with a pinch of salt.
Sure, he is missing key strikers Aguero and Jesus, as well as first-choice defender Aymeric Laporte. However, such is a the squad that he has assembled at The Etihad that their replacements are themselves topclass professionals.
Last weekend, City brushed past a strong Wolves side with relative ease, keeping their most dangerous players quiet while also being clinical in front of goal themselves. Phil Foden was absolutely exceptional.
City must be wary of Leicester’s attack – three of the past five meetings have led to goals at both ends. Jamie Vardy and co. will be relishing the chance to get at a defence which hasn’t played often together.
But City look refreshed already this season and could continue their 100% record this weekend.
Star Man – Kevin De Bruyne
He was the standout player against Wolves, scoring and assisting in a 3-1 win. He’s the best midfielder in the world and City are lucky to have him.
Predicted 2020/21 finish: 7th
Reasons to be cheerful
Sit top of the table after two superb wins
Have a great mix of youth and experience
Reasons to be fearful
Man City are a step ahead of the teams they’ve played so far
Light at the back now that Ndidi is injured
Leicester have started this season even stronger than the 2019-20 campaign, which they spent most of in 3rd place.
It took three games for them to register their first win, whereas this season they’re sitting pretty at the top of the league with two wins from two. They’ve impressed in their wins too, with seven goals scored against West Brom and Burnley.
With no disrespect to those two teams, Manchester City will represent a far tougher challenge for Leicester this weekend.
Even last season when The Citizens were well off the pace in the league, they still beat Leicester at home and away.
Leicester must play at maximum intensity if they are to secure a result against City. They will have to get the ball to Vardy in strong areas, and in-form players like Harvey Barnes will need to be at their best.
It could just be that City are too strong for them on this occasion.
Star Man – Jamie Vardy
A super player who gets better with age. City are his fourth-favourite team to score against, with six goals.
City will put pressure on from the start
They best attacks came down left against Wolves
Leicester will have chances if they can take them
Man City overwhelmed Wolves completely in the first half last weekend, and will set out to do the same against Leicester.
The combination of De Bruyne, Sterling and Foden down City’s left hand side was electric and Leicester’s weakened defence without could struggle, although Johnny Evans has been passed fit.
Leicester will definitely have chances. Vardy loves to score against City, however has lost more times to them than any other team.
The Foxes will do well again this season, but could lose their 100% record this weekend.
Man City to win 2-1
