Football Results

Although it was expected that leading team of the Premier League resolves all dilemma about qualifying for the great final of League Cup in the first leg that was played in Manchester, the Citizens managed to score their second and winning goal only in 92 minute. Such minimal victory leaves open door for second-division Bristol City to try to make another sensation in front of its fans and eliminate the second team from Manchester from this competition.

Bristol City

In the quarter-final of League Cup Bristol City totally unexpectedly defeated at home team that won the most titles in England, Manchester City, by 2-1, while before that they eliminated three other Premier League clubs; Watford, Stoke and Crystal Palace. Their last match at the Etihad proved that none of those results was product of mere chance or luck as they had draw in their hand all the way up to 92 minute as the result was 1-1, but then forward of the home team Aguero managed to score the winner.

However, coach Johnson players had showed in the 1st semi-final leg showed that will not surrender without fighting back. Now will enjoy a great support from the stands and we wouldn’t be surprised if they create a fair deal of problems to the favoured City. True, their form in the Championship is in decline lately and after three defeats and one draw they slid down at the fifth place in the table. In the meantime goalkeeper Fielding and stopper Baker have joined to long list of injured players.

Probable lineups Bristol City: Steele – Wright, Flint, Magnusson, Bryan – Brownhill, Smith, Pack – Paterson, Reid, Diedhiou

Manchester City

We have said in the introduction that was expected from the guests from Manchester to resolve all dilemmas in the first semi-final match played at the Etihad which team goes to the final of League Cup but in the end they just won by tight 2-1 thanks to Aguero’s goal scored in the stoppage time. We believe that coach Guardiola players would play in the same way now in Bristol even if the first match had ended as draw, given they always play to win.

True, after the victory of 2-1 they can play under bit less pressure and preserve strength for other competitions, but anyway it is expected that Guardiola will send a strong team on the pitch in order to avoid risking elimination from the League Cup. The Citizens were defeated recently for the first time this season, by Liverpool away 4-3. After that they routinely defeated at home Newcastle 3-1 so they still have big 12 points more than second-placed Manchester United.

Probable lineups Manchester Cityja: Bravo – Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko – de Bruyne, Fernandinho, Gundogan – Sterling, Aguero, Sane

Verdict:

Given that Bristol City had already put up a fierce resistance to the favoured Citizens at the Etihad, it can be expected to do something similar now when they play at home, regardless that currently leading team of the Premier League will take them far more seriously than it did in the first semi-final match.

Pick: Asian handicap +1.75 Bristol City 1.94 - 94/100 @1XBet