Leipzig to prove tough customers on home soil
RB Leipzig and Manchester City meet on Wednesday night for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie at the Red Bull Arena. Marco Rose will have seen some of the struggles the visitors have been recently and will take heart from them, whilst also being more than aware that they can't afford to be complacent. Read our preview here:
Changing of the Gvard
Die Roten Bullen got back to winning ways at the weekend with a 3-0 defeat of Wolfsburg, which came hot on the heels of a costly 2-1 reverse to Bundesliga surprise packages Union Berlin. Just five points separate the top six in the division with 13 games remaining, with many of those sides still in European competition. Goalkeeper and club captain Péter Gulácsi remains out, as are Dani Olmo and About Diallo. The hosts are boosted by the return of Chelsea-bound Christopher Nkunku, however. The forward came back to action at the weekend. The much sought after Josko Gvardiol continues to be watched by scouts and analysts from almost every moneyed club, and he'll have another battle on his hands to help the fellow members of the back four keep a clean sheet.
Friend or Foden
Pep Guardiola was shown a yellow card during the unexpected and costly 1-1 draw away to Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The head coach witnessed his side spurn many presentable chances before being pegged back and ultimately losing ground to Arsenal in the title race. The Champions League remains the head coach's number one ambition whilst in charge of the Eastlands outfit, and he should have Phil Foden in from the start on Wednesday. The England international's creativity will be especially important with Kevin De Bruyne out, whilst Manuel Akanji is likely to fill in for John Stones in the heart of the defensive unit.
Betting tip
Parimatch have odds of 3.75 for a draw in the first leg that will leave the return fixture finely balanced.
