Tuesday evening at 19:45, Oxford United receives Manchester City’s visit to Kassam Stadium in the League Cup of England. Pep Guardiola will experience this trip, where he will use a 3-4-3 system from which Bravo, Danilo, De Bruyne, Mangala and Mendy will not be injured. There’s a big difference in value between the two clubs.
In the last round, Oxford lost to Walsall on his own field (1-2), in a clearer manner than the score showed. In fact, Oxford is on a downward slope in League One (England’s third draw) and has only one success in the last four games in a row without a win: 1-2 with Walsall, 0-0 with Wycombe, 1-2 with Coventry and 1-1 with Sunderland. It was a heavy series of matches, with encouraging draws, but Oxford’s offensive force seems to be down. However, against Manchester City hosts will play a 100% defensive play, no matter what formula Pep Guardiola will choose. The Catalan has a huge lot with many valuable players who are waiting for their chance to impress. Gabriel Jesus could be titled in attack.
Sergio Aguero will be rested, just like other City stars.
Manchester City has just defeated Cardiff away, 5-0, without a call, a match in which Sergio Aguero was again lethal in outposts. But Aguero will be rested in the game with Oxford, in which Guardiola will apply the favorite principle of player rotation, to give his footballers the chance to have matches standing. City has scored 11 goals in the last four games played internally, but it will not be easy to unleash a crowded defense Tuesday night, which has one goal: to stop the “citizens” attacks.
It will be a duel that is definitely dominated by the Premier League champion, and this will be the occasion for the execution of many corner kicks. With a 5-backed system, Oxford will try to reject desperately any creative attempt of the guests, and the odds for a match with goals or Manchester’s victory do not bring any value. Instead, we can bet on the corner kicks of our favorites, especially as City is the Premier League team with the most corners played this season! The match will be played on a single gate Tuesday night.
PREDICTION: Over 3.5 goals @ 1.64
