Premier League: after Madrid thriller, Pep's City can ease to Leeds win

City's late show

With Liverpool kicking-off at 12:30pm, Manchester City may well travel to Leeds for Saturday's late kick-off with the pressure firmly on them in the race for the Premier League title. 

City are given a 68% shot of winning the crown but as they only hold a one-point lead can ill afford any slip with five games left. 

The market suggests that any misstep is unlikely to come this week as they are priced as low as 1.31 to overcome a Leeds team that has a miserable record against the leading clubs and, as such, is priced out at 11. A draw is on offer at 6.2.

Leeds on the Marsch

Leeds have been infamous for their poor performances against the Premier League’s biggest sides, with results including a 7-0 drubbing against City when they met in mid-December and then a 6-0 thumping by Liverpool in February. 

Those defeats, though, came under the uncompromising Marcelo Bielsa, who would rather his team lost heavily with style rather than narrowly in a compromised system. Jesse Marsch has been in charge for the best part of two months and has led the Elland Road club on a five-match undefeated run.

The American, though, has not been tested against one of the Premier League’s elite sides, although a stunning 3-2 win against Wolves in March does hint that they have toughened up.

Leeds manager Jesse Marsch has seen his team record a five-match unbeaten run

Pep wants to connect four 

Manchester City, meanwhile, are still chasing a Premier League and Champions League double, having established a 4-3 advantage over Real Madrid in a breathless midweek European encounter. It was a match that showcased City’s glittering attacking potential, but also highlighted that they can be undone. 

Pep Guardiola’s side have won their last three games after a wobble of sorts that saw them go three without a victory. Remarkably, though, City have not won four successive matches since February, which is a barren run by their lofty standards.

The squad is set to be stretched as due to the intense nature of their calendar, they visit Madrid on Tuesday for a tie that is certainly not dead.

City to go for the kill 

Given this is Marsch’s first tussle with a big team, it is difficult to predict how his side might fare, yet the ease with which City are dispatching middle-ranking opponents at present suggests they will pick up three points with some comfort. Since beating Leeds 7-0, they have won seven of their 10 fixtures against club’s 10th or lower by more than a single goal.

Also look for City to get this one done early; they will not want to expend any more energy than is absolutely necessary before their Madrid return match. With this in mind, back City to be ahead at the break.

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