Manchester City host Sparta Prague in the league phase of 2024-25 UEFA Champions League.
Victory would see Man City further consolidate their top-eight placing, whilst Sparta Prague could leapfrog City into the top eight with a win.
Team News
Man City have no fresh injury concerns to report following their comeback 2-1 Premier League win at Wolves.
Kevin De Bruyne (groin) and Kyle Walker (knock) are doubtful for selection.
Rodri (knee) and Oscar Bobb (leg) remain absent.
Sparta Prague have a near-full squad available but Elias Cobbaut is a doubt due to illness.
Imanol Garcia (knee) is sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host Sparta Prague at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 23 October at 8pm BST, live on TNT Sport 2 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Man City’s first competitive meeting against Sparta Prague.
- Sparta Prague are visiting Man City for the first time.
- Man City won both of their two previous Champions League clashes against Czech opposition (W2), as they beat Viktoria Plzen 4-2 and 3-0 in Group Stage of 2013-14 edition.
- Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens are yet to concede in this new league phase format (W1, D1).
- Two of Sparta Prague’s four goals in the league phase were scored by Kaan Kairinen.
Prediction
With one clean sheet in their last six matches in all competitions and a scrappy controversial comeback at Wolves, Man City are definitely not their usual fortress and Erling Haaland seems to have hit a rare rut up front.
City though are lucky that other players have stepped up so there is no doubting their quality despite the lack of clean sheets.
Sparta Prague though are no pushovers in this season’s competition with no losses in Qualifying and like City, they’ve too scored four goals which means that they can’t be underestimated.
I however do expect Man City’s quality to shine but if Sparta get their tactics right, they could pose a tougher problem than many expect.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Sparta Prague
Result: Manchester City 5-0 Sparta Prague
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