Manchester City v Leicester City: Line-ups, stats and preview

Match Preview for Manchester City v Leicester City

Manchester City will look to build on Sunday’s impressive FA Cup win at Bournemouth when they host struggling Leicester City tomorrow night.

Pep Guardiola’s side were trailing at the break but second-half goals from Erling Haaland, who had earlier seen a penalty saved, and Omar Marmoush turned the tie around and sent City into the semi-finals for the seventh successive year.

It was the kind of performance City have produced rarely this season with their hopes of a fifth Premier League crown in a row dashed by a poor run of form around Christmas.

Preparing for midweek @premierleague action 🔋 pic.twitter.com/QA45IXRMBy

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 31, 2025

They have realigned their targets with Champions League qualification now the stated aim over the remaining weeks.

They start this match round in fifth place, a point adrift of Chelsea, but will surely be confident of claiming three points against a Leicester side who are heading back to the  Championship.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side have lost their last six league games without scoring.

They are nine points from safety and the situation is looking bleak for the Foxes.

Van Nistelrooy said: “Our focus is on doing the best we can and that gives us the best chance to pick up points. It’s tough.

“Ipswich and Southampton are in a similar situation. It’s important to stay with the process and stay motivated, and with that I cannot ask any more.”

Despite their woeful record, Guardiola won’t be taking Leicester lightly.

“I know how tough Leicester are,” he said. “I have been impressed by the way they have played the last two games. They played really well against Chelsea and against Aston Villa they played really good, in different ways.

“They did really well. So we need them [the fans] desperately to achieve our success and to be in the Champions League again.”

Team News for Manchester City v Leicester City

The big news for City is the fact striker Erling Haaland has been ruled out for up to seven weeks due to the ankle injury he sustained at Bournemouth.

Haaland limped out of the FA Cup tie shortly after the hour mark and was seen wearing a protective boot as he left the Vitality Stadium.

The 24-year-old underwent further tests on Monday and Guardiola says he remains hopeful he will return before the end of the season.

He said: “They told me, the doctors, [he will be out for] between five to seven weeks. So hopefully the end of the season and by the Club World Cup he will be ready.”

PEP 💬 We don’t have another player with his [Erling Haaland's] skills or specific qualities we know that but we have to adapt. For many years, we've played with different ways up front and it depends on the qualities of the players. We’re going to find another solution. pic.twitter.com/SxlsPf31Sm

— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 1, 2025

Guardiola is likely to rotate his side after naming an experienced line-up on the south coast.

Van Nistelrooy is hopeful right-back Ricardo Pereira will be fit for the game at the Etihad.

The Dutchman said: “We had Pereira out for the [Manchester] United game, but he is doing really well. Hopefully we get him on the training pitch and see if he’s ready for Wednesday.”

Stats for Manchester City v Leicester City

Prediction

This represents a golden chance for City to claim a much-needed three points. Leicester have been out of their depth for much of the season and we think that trend will continue tomorrow night.

Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Leicester City