Kick-off: 1730, 15/04/2023
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
TV: Sky Sports
Manchester City will continue their relentless pursuit of Premier League leaders Arsenal when entertaining Leicester at Etihad Stadium.
The relegation-threatened Foxes may get a lift from new boss Dean Smith but this still represents a daunting task on all known evidence.
We’re going with 19/20 for a home win to nil as our opening Man City vs Leicester prediction.
Blues eyeing 10th straight win
City stepped up their bid for a treble triumph by beating Bayern Munich 3-0 here on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
A spectacular strike from Rodri, a powerful header from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland’s 45th goal of the season did the damage.
Pep Guardiola admitted that was a challenging match, stating: “Emotionally, I’m destroyed. I have 10 more years today.
“It was so demanding a game. It was not comfortable. Now I have to relax – a day off for the guys, prepare for Leicester.”
That was a ninth straight win for the Blues, who are also through to the FA Cup semi-finals and hot on the heels of the Gunners in the league.
Six of those victories featured clean sheets, with only Liverpool managing a consolation goal in the last five games at this venue.
Looking at the Man City vs Leicester odds, we like 27/4 for another 3-0 success.
Last Man City line-up: Ederson, Dias, Ake, Akanji, Stones, Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne, Haaland, Grealish, Silva.
Smith to rescue Foxes?
Leicester’s form could hardly be a bigger contrast, with just one point picked up from their last eight top-flight fixtures.
Five of the seven defeats suffered have been by just the odd goal but going down 1-0 at home to fellow strugglers Bournemouth was especially damaging.
That setback left the Foxes second from bottom and Smith has been handed the task of keeping the Foxes up following the recent dismissal of Brendan Rodgers.
Leicester turned to the 52-year-old former Brentford, Aston Villa and Norwich chief having seen a move for ex-Leeds boss Jesse Marsch collapse.
Smith said: “The challenge in front of us is clear but it’s one myself and my coaching team have experienced before and, with the quality in this squad and the number of games remaining, it’s very much achievable.
“Our first job is to rebuild confidence and instil belief in the team and I’m looking forward to getting to work with the players this week.
“If it was something that I thought was unsurmountable, I wouldn’t have come. We’re looking forward to the challenge but we know it’s going to be tough.”
Smith could not have faced a tougher start, though, and he may settle for damage limitation before upcoming games against Wolves, Leeds and Everton.
The hosts will be keen to get the hard work done early and then ease off, with next week’s trip to Munich in mind.
Let’s add 7/4 for Guardiola’s men to lead by more than one goal at half-time to our Man City vs Leicester betting tips.
Last Leicester line-up: Iversen, Faes, Kristansen, Amartey, Castagne, Barnes, Maddison, Pereira, Ndidi, Soumare, Vardy.
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