Bristol City continues to miss their center midfielder Jens Hegelar and right back Eros Pisano due to injuries. Both goalkeeper Frank Fielding and defender Nathan Baker came off at half time on Saturday, so both are doubts to feature in this tie.
One of the big reasons that Bristol City held a lead for a little while in the first leg and were able to get the goal in the first place was due to their willingness and ability to press the Citizens. They had pinched the ball off the Citizens and broke quickly to force a mistake at the back. But unfortunately they conceded two later but overall performance are fantastic as they are not from the same level as their rival. They'll need more of that kind of play today.
Pep Guardiola continues to be without center back Vincent Kompany, Benjamin Mendy and forward Gabriel Jesus due to injury concerns.
As a goalkeeper, Claudio Bravo can have a big role to play today. City are a possession team, and that means that when they are pressed, they like to keep the ball and give to the goalkeeper. Any passes he makes must be 100% accurate.
As far as league form goes, Bristol City have caught themselves a little and are now in fifth in the Championship to currently see them three points inside the playoff places. Manchester City, meanwhile, are still top of the Premier League.
In the EFL Cup, Bristol City have had to scratch and claw past 'bigger sides' nearly the whole way. After demolishing Plymouth Argyle 5-0, they won 2-3 at Watford. They then won successive home ties over Stoke (2-0), Crystal Palace (4-1), and most impressively, Manchester United (2-1). Manchester City, meanwhile, have had close-run ties all the way through. They first defeated West Brom 1-2 away before going to penalties at home to Wolves after a 0-0 draw. They then went to penalties again at Leicester following a 1-1 draw before winning the first leg 2-1 at home.
Bristol City stopped their recent bleeding a little bit on Saturday when they got a draw against Derby County, but a draw here in this match is not what is required of them to move on. Because of that, they are going to be forced to go all out. That strategy served them well in the first leg, but to repeat that level of performance will be tough. Manchester City are just too good to let this lead slip.
Score Prediction: Bristol City 1-2 Manchester City
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