FA Cup: Manchester City v Leeds United match preview
A look ahead to this weekend’s FA Cup fixture at the Etihad Stadium
Friday 15 February 2013
Related articles
Manchester City host Championship side Leeds United on Sunday in the fifth round of the FA Cup, with manager Roberto Mancini quickly running out of silverware opportunities. With the Premier League holders now 12 points off rivals Manchester United, the Italian will be hoping his side can repeat their victorious campaign of 2011, or else he may be searching for new employment in the not-to-distant future.
Mancini looks set to recall striker Carlos Tevez, who missed the 3-1 defeat to Southampton due to compassionate leave. Former Leeds player James Milner may feature against the club he made 48 appearances for as a youngster, but another ex-Leeds player Micah Richards is still a few weeks away from a return after knee surgery in October.
For Leeds, it is their second meeting with a Premier League top-3 side this season, following their 5-1 defeat in the League Cup to Chelsea, who went on to be knocked-out in the semi-finals by Swansea. Having sold striker Luciano Becchio to Norwich on Deadline Day, Neil Warnock will be relying on El Hadji Diouf, Ross McCormack and Luke Varney to get the goals for his side, who haven’t won since their fourth round victory over Tottenham last month.
KICK-OFF: 2pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS...
Leeds 2 (McPhail, Viduka) Man City 1 (Anelka), Premier League, March 2004
Man City 1 (Sibierski) Leeds 1 (Viduka), Premier League, December 2003
Man City 2 (Goater, Jensen) Leeds (Kewell) Premier League, January 2003
STATS...
The two clubs last met in the FA Cup in January 2000, with Leeds running out 5-2 winners at Maine Road thanks to goals from Eirik Bakke, Alan Smith, Lee Bowyer and two from Harry Kewell, with City’s goals coming through Shaun Goater and Ian Bishop.
They have met five times in the cup, with Leeds winning three compared to City’s two.
There hasn’t been a 0-0 draw since October 1995, nine meetings ago.
Man City beat Watford 3-0 and Stoke 1-0 to reach the fifth round, while Leeds beat Birmingham – via a replay – and Tottenham.
Leeds won their one and only FA Cup trophy in 1972, but have finished runners-up on three occasions in 1965, 1970 and 1973.
ODDS...
Man City to win: 1.21
Leeds United to win: 17
Draw: 8.6
TV: Live on ESPN at 2pm. Highlights on ITV at 10.15pm.
Latest in Sport
Sport blogs
iBet: Look each way for value in The Cote D’Azur Open
With the top nine players in the men’s world tennis rankings all missing this tournament to prepare ...
by Gareth Purnell
21 May 2013 02:01 AM
On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: We could have been on the tour of Siberia over past 72 hours
When cyclists look back on their careers spanning many hundreds (and in some cases possibly thousand...
by Martin Ayres
20 May 2013 06:12 PM
Nike kit deal puts England at No 2 in the world (but which country is top?)
As England’s new football strip – made by Nike – is revealed today, new research shows the English F...
by Alex Miller
20 May 2013 04:52 PM
-
Jose Mourinho clear to rejoin Chelsea after Real Madrid confirm exit at end of season
-
Tottenham to smash pay scale with £150,000-a-week contract in attempt to tie Gareth Bale to club
-
Why Arsène Wenger must spend to put icing on the cake and buy likes of Stevan Jovetic for Arsenal
-
Arsenal considering options as Fiorentina continue to hold-out on Stevan Jovetic
-
Sam Wallace: As he leaves Real Madrid, make no mistake - Jose Mourinho's return to Chelsea will only end in tears
- 1 'He was lucky he didn't die' - George Michael fell out of speeding car onto M1 motorway, according to eye witness
- 2 Austerity has hardened the nation's heart
- 3 Gay couple beaten in park urge MPs to moderate language on gay marriage
- 4 X marks the spot: The find that could rewrite Australian history
- 5 'It was just like the movie Twister': Man survives Oklahoma tornado by taking refuge in horse stall
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Day In a Page
The price of pacifism
Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond
Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?
Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'



Comments