Manchester City is in unfamiliar territory right now.
Losers of two straight matches, the Cityzens will now head to Leipzig for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League match looking to get off the schneid before a massive showdown with Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
And while we shouldn’t be worried about City’s season-long outlook because of a couple of uninspiring performances against Newcastle in the EFL Cup and Wolverhampton, it is fair to suggest this isn’t a bad time to take on the Cityzens, especially with a high-ceiling team like RB Leipzig.
While City is still the best team in the world, Leipzig is good enough to give anybody trouble in a one-match sample size.
Manchester City vs. RB Leipzig pick
(3 p.m. ET., Paramount+)
Red Bull are clinical in front of goal, they play a relentless style of soccer and, most importantly, they’re an elite defensive club.
Only Bayern Munich allowed fewer expected goals (xG) in the Bundesliga last season and it’s more of the same for Leipzig in 2023-24 as it has conceded just six goals and 7.6 xG through six league matches so far.
No team can be fully confident in its ability to shut down Manchester City’s attack, but Leipzig is one of a handful that stands a reasonable chance of doing that — particularly at home.
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It may be hard to fathom City losing three matches on the spin, but this match has all the right ingredients for an upset.
Leipzig is defensively sound, clinical going forward, and it catches the Cityzens in a brutal schedule spot.
The play: RB Leipzig +360 (Caesars).