Manchester City return to league action under the Etihad Stadium lights as they face Leicester City on Wednesday night in the English top-flight.
The Premier League Champions are in search of a priceless three points as the pressure builds on an ever-intensifying race for UEFA Champions League football as the 2024/25 campaign draws to a close.
On Sunday, City secured a huge victory in the context of their season as they progressed to their seventh successive FA Cup semi-final, beating AFC Bournemouth by a 1-2 scoreline, coming from behind in an inspired second-half performance.
City were very wasteful in the early stages, with Erling Haaland not his usual prolific self, missing a trio of great chances to break the deadlock: the first from a brilliant cross by Matheus Nunes and headed past the post; the second forcing a good save from Kepa Arrizabalaga at the penalty spot; and the third being a one-vs-one.
Bournemouth then seized upon missed opportunities and took the lead just past the 20 minute mark, when Evanilson fired home from close range after the ball was very poorly given away by Matheus Nunes, making the score 1-0 at the break.
Pep Guardiola knew something had to change, so he brought on exciting prospect Nico O’Reilly at left back for Abdudokir Khusanov to add some width to the team’s structure. Sure enough, the change paid off with O’Reilly charging forward down the left and pulling the ball across the box to be fired home by Erling Haaland.
Haaland was then forced off following an uncomfortable landing on his ankle and was replaced by Omar Marmoush. The two who had come off the bench then combined just two minutes later, with O’Reilly stealing the ball from Antoine Semenyo and threading it through to the Egyptian, who slotted it home calmly.
The remainder of the second period was a story of exceptional game management by the Blues, who limited Bournemouth to 0.00 xG in the second 45, expertly seeing out the remainder of the game to progress to a potentially season-saving visit to Wembley.
City’s opponents on Sunday come into the fixture in poor form, failing to win since the January 26, facing seven consecutive defeats in all competitions, and having not scored a league goal since that victory at the end of the first month of the year, conceding 16 goals in that time.
In regards to the table, the game is hugely important for both sides for very different reasons, with the Foxes fighting for their lives in the Premier League, trying to pull off a somewhat miraculous feat being 12 points off safety with nine fixtures remaining this campaign.
For the Blues, this is a must win along with the ...
