Man City vs Sparta Prague Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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Man City will look to break into the automatic qualification spots for the Champions League knockout stage with a second league phase victory here vs surprise package Sparta Prague
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Wednesday October 23rd 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports 2 & TNT Sports Ultimate / US – CBS Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
MAN CITY PREVIEW: PROFESSIONALISM REQUIRED TO AVOID POTENTIAL TRAP GAME
With four points from a possible six, Man City still have a bit of ground to make up if they are to force their way into the top eight of the league phase. A 0-4 win over Slovan Bratislava certainly helped on that front, with Erling Haaland getting on the scoresheet for the first time this season in the Champions League.
After having to settle for a place on the bench again vs Wolves this past Sunday, Phil Foden will no doubt be chomping at the bit to get out there from the start against Sparta Prague, particularly after recording a goal and an assist in Bratislava.
SPARTA PRAGUE PREVIEW: CURRENTLY MATCHING MAN CITY ON POINTS
Sparta Prague fans will no doubt be over the moon with the start their side have made to the league phase and the fact that they currently boast as many points as their opponents here is testament to what we have seen from them so far. A comprehensive 3-0 victory against Salzburg was backed up by a hard-fought 1-1 draw away at Stuttgart.
Despite facing a total of 26 shots vs Stuttgart, ten of those being on target, the Czech champions held on for what could turn out to be an invaluable point down the line. They can now treat this next game as a free hit.
MAN CITY TEAM NEWS: DE BRUYNE AND WALKER JOIN INJURY LIST
Both Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker are confirmed to be unavailable by Pep Guardiola, joining Rodri and Oscar Bobb on the treatment table. Meanwhile, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan could make his 100th Champions League appearance
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Gundogan; Savinho, Silva, Foden, Grealish; Haaland
UNAVAILABLE: Bobb (Injured), De Bruyne (Injured), Rodri (Injured), Walker (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
SPARTA PRAGUE TEAM NEWS: COBBAUT INJURED AND NOT IN CONTENTION
Sparta may well opt to field three central defenders against an opponent like Man City with wing-backs dropping into a back five off the ball. Belgian defender Elias Cobbaut is missing with a leg injury.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Vindahl; Vitik, Panak, Zeleny; Preciado, Kairinen, Laci, Wiesner; Birmancevic; Rrahmani, Haraslin
UNAVAILABLE: Cobbaut (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
KEY STATS
- Man City are unbeaten in their last 50 home games in all competitions (W41 D9) since a 2-1 loss to Brentford on 12 November 2022.
- Man City are unbeaten in their last 26 UEFA club competition matches (W17 D9), since losing away from home against Real Madrid in May 2022 (L 3-1 SF 2nd leg). Only Espanyol have achieved this feat previously, their run ended at 26 successive UEFA matches without a defeat (2006-2019).
- Man City are unbeaten in their last 31 UEFA Champions League matches in their own stadium (W27 D4), since a 2-1 loss to Lyon on Matchday 1 in 2018/19.
- Sparta Prague are unbeaten in their previous eight UEFA competition matches this season (W6 D2).
- Sparta Prague have won only one of their last 18 UEFA competition matches against English teams (D4 L13).
- Sparta Prague are without a win in their previous eight matches against English teams in the UEFA Champions League competition proper (D2 L6).
MAN CITY VS SPARTA PRAGUE PREDICTION
Man City may not have conceded a goal yet in this season’s Champions League, but they are yet to record a Premier League clean sheet since the opening weekend. Pep Guardiola’s men have let in at least one goal in all bar two of their last ten matches in all competitions and face a Sparta Prague side who have found the net at least once in each of their most recent 15 UEFA competition fixtures. With that in mind, whilst Man City should do enough to pick up three points in this one, their goalkeeper is still likely to be picking the ball out of his own net at least once.
MAN CITY VS SPARTA PRAGUE TIP: MAN CITY TO WIN AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
