JAKARTA - Manchester City will host Sparta Prague on the third matchday of the 2024/2025 Champions League at the Etihad Stadium, Thursday, October 24, 2024, early morning WIB.
The meeting of these two teams was the first time this had occurred in a European tournament. Interestingly, there are many similarities between City and Sparta Prague.
The Citizens and Zelezna Sparta are both in second place in their respective leagues, the Premier League and the Czech Republic League.
Then, they also still pack four points from their previous two Champions League games. Positionally, City is on the eighth ladder, while Sparta Prague is in 10th place.
Given that they have never met, the two teams are fairly blind to their respective strengths. They can only prioritize motivation from traveling in domestic competitions.
Manchester City as the host have extended their unbeaten record in all competitions in the 2024-25 season to 12 matches.
BACA JUGA:
Pep Guardiola's men became the only Premier League team to have lost this season after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Citizens, who dominated the game with nearly 80 percent possession, 22 shots, and 18 corner kicks, were forced to bounce back from behind to claim maximum points.
Victory for Pep Guardiola's side has set them a new club record unbeaten in 31 matches (25 wins and six draws) in the Premier League.
They will have the opportunity to carve out their names in the Champions League in a lucrative match against Sparta Prague.
If Manchester City only avoid defeat against the Maroons, they will set a new, unbeaten record in the history of the European Cup/Champton League.
The Citizens have now packed a record unbeaten in 25 matches (17 wins and eight draws), scored 64 goals, and conceded only 18 in their Champions League game. Most recently, they beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0 in Slovakia three weeks ago.
The 2023 Champions League champions are also on the verge of surpassing Real Madrid's record 32 unbeaten home games by 1990 if they avoid defeat against Sparta Prague.
The Citizens' meeting record with Republican side Ceska also impressed. They beat Viktoria Plzen 3-0 on a trip and won 4-2 at home in the 2013-14 Champions League group stage.
Meanwhile, Sparta Prague has returned to the Champions League in nearly two decades. They made a rather surprising start by picking up four points from the opening two matches.
After passing Shamrock Rovers, FCSB, and Malmo in the qualifying round, Maroons secured a 3-0 win at home over Red Bull Salzburg in the first match. Then, they held Stuttgart 1-1 in Germany three weeks ago.
The draw came between the two defeats in the Ceska Republic League. However, now they have returned to winning ways.
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, local time, Sparta Prague beat Slovan Liberec 2-1 at home.
Lars Friis' team now have to test their courage in the Champions League against Manchester City's strong team.
The Citizens are the ninth England team they have faced in European tournaments.
The Maroons have only won four of their previous 22 meetings with English clubs. Last time, they lost to Liverpool in the last 16 of the Europa League with an aggregate score of 2-11 last season.
Manchester City is clearly over the wind to win the match against Sparta Prague. In addition to appearing in front of their own supporters, Guardiola's troops are motivated to maintain a positive trend.
Guardiola is not too bothered by the injury problem of a number of pillars. The Citizens squad's depth has been tested in the Premier League.
As is well known, it is certain that Manchester City will not be strengthened by Rodri and Oscar Bobb. Likewise Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker who are still in doubt.
"We trained for a few days, but I don't think (can play Walker and De Bruyne)," Guardiola said at ESPN.
Guardiola may consider rotating in other positions, as he did against Slovan Bratislava.
He will play players like Stefan Ortega, Manuel Akanji, Matheus Nunes, Jack Grealish, and Phil Foden in the starting XI.
Formation Forecast
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Gundogan, Nunes; Bernardo, Foden, Grealish; Haaland
Sparta Prague (3-4-3): Vulul; Vitik, Panak, Zeleny; Preciado, Kairinen, Laci, Wiesner; Birmancevic, Rrahmani, Haraslin
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