Manchester City looking to equal Arsenal’s unbeaten home record in Champions League

Share

Manchester City will be looking to equal Arsenal’s unbeaten home record in the Champions League when they face RB Leipzig in the second leg of their last-16 tie at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Citizens were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Germany three weeks ago, with Riyad Mahrez’s first-half strike cancelled out by a second-half header from reported City transfer target Josko Gvardiol.

Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola’s men will fancy their chances of booking their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the sixth successive season when they welcome Leipzig to the blue side of Manchester for the second time in as many years.

Indeed, the Citizens secured a thrilling 6-3 home triumph over Die Roten Bullen in the group stage of last season’s Champions League on their way to qualifying for the knockout rounds.

Man City boast a remarkable unbeaten home record in Europe’s premier club competition, winning 21 and drawing two of their last 23 matches at the Etihad dating back to November 2018.

Guardiola’s side have scored a total of 71 goals during this run, netting at least twice on 20 occasions, while they have only conceded 19 times and have kept 10 clean sheets in the process.

Should the Citizens avoid defeat against Leipzig on Tuesday, they will equal Arsenal’s record for the longest unbeaten home run by an English club in Champions League history.

The Gunners, who have not competed in the Champions League for the last seven years, put together a 24-game unbeaten home run between September 2004 and April 2009, during a period when they swapped Highbury for the Emirates Stadium.

Man City head into Tuesday’s clash with Leipzig having won each of their last nine Champions League games against German opposition as the designation home team, scoring at least twice on each occasion.

The last German side to come out on top against the Citizens at the Etihad was Bayern Munich when they were managed by none other than Guardiola in the 2013-14 campaign – beating Manuel Pellegrini’s men 3-1 in the group stage.

Meanwhile, Liverpool were the last team from any nation to defeat City on home soil in the Champions League when they secured a 2-1 second-leg win in quarter-finals of the 2017-18 season – winning 5-1 on aggregate.

Man City have been boosted by the news that Leipzig’s top scorer Christopher Nkunku – who scored a memorable hat-trick at the Etihad last season – is ruled out through injury, while Guardiola is blessed with a fully-fit squad for the second leg.

Follow Us on Social media:

Read More:
Scroll to Top