Potentially just one point away from securing progression to the last 16 of the Champions League, Manchester City welcome Swiss outfit Young Boys to the Etihad Stadium for Tuesday's Group E battle.
The two sides reconvene a fortnight on from the holders' 3-1 success at Stadion Wankdorf, although both teams come into the matchday four battle on the back of dominant domestic victories.
Match preview
© Reuters
Group G has followed the script to a tee, and Man City are on the verge of entering the knockout draw with two games to spare, having followed up 3-1 beatings of RB Leipzig and Red Star Belgrade with an identical success during their midpoint meeting with Young Boys in Bern.
Manuel Akanji marked his return to his homeland with the first goal of the evening before an obligatory Erling Haaland brace rendered Meschak Elia's effort inconsequential, thereby assuring the runaway leaders of a third-placed finish at the very worst, and victory would ensure a spot in the last 16 for Pep Guardiola's crop.
A draw would also suffice for the holders if Red Star Belgrade fail to upset RB Leipzig, and Man City enter matchday four as one of only four sides with their 100% records still intact - Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid also boast nine points from a possible nine so far.
Unbeaten in 16 top-level European matches since their unforgettable Bernabeu beating at the hands of Real in May 2022, the Citizens have also navigated each of their last 27 Champions League games at the Etihad without suffering a single defeat; only Liverpool (30) boast a longer unbeaten streak for English clubs in the Champions League.
Ahead of their meeting with Young Boys, a young boy by the name of Jeremy Doku reserved a place in Bournemouth nightmares at the weekend, scoring one goal and coming up with a fantastic four assists in a 6-1 crushing of the Cherries, seeing the Citizens rise to the summit of the Premier League table in the process.
© Reuters
One quick glance at the rankings suggests that the third time may not be the charm for Young Boys, who previously competed in the group stage of the 2018-19 and 2021-22 Champions League but failed in their quest to upset the apple cart and secure a surprise top-two finish.
A 2-2 draw with Red Star Belgrade represents their only positive result in Group G so far - and even that was tinged with disappointment as the Serbian side drew level in the 88th minute - while 3-1 beatings to City and Leipzig either side of that stalemate have left Young Boys with the steepest of mountains to climb.
The team managed by Raphael Wicky are only keeping Red Star out of the Europa League spot by virtue of a marginally cleaner disciplinary record, and their wafer-thin hopes of qualification will be extinguished if they fail to beat City and Leipzig get the job done versus Red Star.
History is not on the visitors' side either, as they have never won a Champions League group-stage game on the road in each of their seven previous attempts, although a visit to Man City's formerly noisy neighbours Manchester United in December 2021 ended with Young Boys taking home a creditable 1-1 draw from Old Trafford.
The Swiss Super League holders also warmed up for an Etihad stopover in ideal fashion with a 4-1 crushing of Winterthur in domestic action at the weekend, despite seeing out the final 30 minutes with 10 men as Sandro Lauper was given his marching orders, and Wicky memorably guided Basel to a 2-1 win away to Man City in March 2018; one suspects that lightning may not strike the Etihad turf twice this week, though.
- W
- D
- L
- D
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
While most of the glum faces at the Etihad on Saturday were seen in the away end, Citizens' celebrations soon turned to concern for Erling Haaland, who was forced off at half time after twisting his ankle and is now considered a major doubt for the visit of Young Boys.
Guardiola did not rule out the prospect of the Scandinavian sensation turning out in midweek, but it would be a shock to see him risked ahead of the weekend's meeting with Chelsea, while left-back Sergio Gomez has also sustained an unspecified training injury and was seen on crutches over the weekend.
Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring) completes the three-pronged injury list for the holders, who ought to deploy Julian Alvarez at the tip of the attack in place of Haaland, while Phil Foden and Jack Grealish ought to take advantage of his expected absence.
As for their visitors, Lauper's dismissal at the weekend means nothing for continental competition, but attacker Elia was forced off in injury time at the weekend and will need a once-over before the team fly to England.
Elia is not believed to be nursing a severe issue and should be fine to spearhead the charge, but long-term ACL victim Kastriot Imeri is unlikely to play again this season, while Lukasz Lakomy's foot injury could keep him out until after the next international break.
Captain Mohamed Camara will also be walking a tightrope this weekend, as one more booking for the centre-back will rule him out of Young Boys' potentially pivotal battle with Red Star in a few weeks' time.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Walker, Rodri, Lewis, Grealish; Doku, Alvarez, Foden
Young Boys possible starting lineup:
Racioppi; Blum, Camara, Benito, Garcia; Males, Lauper, Monteiro; Ugrinic; Itten, Elia
We say: Manchester City 3-0 Young Boys
News of a rare physical affliction for Haaland will inevitably send a couple of shockwaves around Manchester, but the Doku-inspired Citizens coped just fine without their leading marksman at the weekend, and a similar story should unfold here.
Three-one victories have been customary for the holders in Group G so far, and an identical attacking haul could be on the cards, but even the odd consolation might be a bridge too far for a Young Boys team yet to win a Champions League group-stage away game, and a spot in the last 16 should be City's by the close of play this week.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
