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March 31 2025, 03:35 · Alex Lawes
Updated April 1 2025, 13:04

Man City vs Leicester Preview: Team News & Prediction

Man City vs Leicester Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Manchester City have endured their worst campaign of the Pep Guardiola era but it could still be salvaged and end up as ‘reasonable’ as they now welcome Leicester City to the Etihad.

Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 2nd April, 2025: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – USA Network

How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Universo

Man City Preview: Salvaging the season

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City came from behind at the weekend to defeat AFC Bournemouth by two goals to one at the Vitality Stadium in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup thanks to a second-half turnaround with goals from Erling Braut Haaland and Omar Marmoush.

They remain inconsistent, both within games let alone in terms of a list of their results, and do begin this match day still with their UEFA Champions League qualification in jeopardy, sitting just a point clear of the likes of Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Leicester Preview: Fallen Foxes

Ruud van Nistelrooy is in charge of a Leicester City that appear to have accepted their fate this season with the Foxes heading into the 30th match day of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign sitting nine points adrift of safety.

The visitors most recently suffered a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at the King Power Stadium a couple of weeks ago due to goals from Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes. They have now suffered seven successive defeats across all competitions.

Man City Team News: Haaland out

Pep Guardiola has given an update on Erling Haaland, who limped off against Bournemouth at the weekend. He has said that the Norway internatonal is expected to be out for between five and seven weeks but hopefully fit for the FIFA Club World Cup. That means their match winner from the weekend, Omar Marmoush, should start regularly.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Silva; Foden, De Bruyne, Savio; Marmoush

Unavailable: Akanji (Injured), Ake (Injured), Stones (Injured), Rodri (Fitness), Haaland (Injured)

Questionable: Bobb (Fitness) 

Leicester Team News: Pereira could be back

In his pre-match press conference ahead of Leicester's tough trip north to Manchester this weekend, Ruud van Nistelrooy has said he is hopeful that Ricardo Pereira will be fit for this week and potentially back in the squad, whilst winger Abdul Fatawu remains sidelined for the Foxes.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Hermansen; Faes, Coady, Thomas; Justin, Ndidi, Soumare, Kristensen; Daka, El Khannouss; Vardy

Unavailable: Fatawu (Injured)

Questionable: Pereira (Fitness)

Man City vs Leicester Prediction

Manchester City are still searching for some sort of formula to get a run going. They can’t just spend the next month and a half looking for tactical solutions because there is still a need for results in both the league and cup. They face, though, a Leicester City where experimenting may well be more than ideal for this one up at the Etihad Stadium. A comfortable City win is to be expected for this one even if they do heavily rotate.

Man City vs Leicester Tip: Man City to win -1 handicap