Man City vs Watford Prediction 25 September 2024

 

🔊 **How Seriously Will Guardiola Take the League Cup?** Just a day after a tough match against Arsenal in the Premier League, Manchester City will begin their campaign in the English League Cup. Last year, they were eliminated at this stage by Newcastle, but this time they face Championship side Watford. With the match set to take place at the Etihad, the "Hornets" face an uphill battle. Experts unanimously predict a victory for the hosts.

### Head-to-Head

Watford has not been in the Premier League since the 2021/22 season, which is also when the last encounters between these teams occurred. City emerged victorious in both matches (3-1 and 5-1). The "Citizens" boast an impressive 15-match winning streak against Watford, including several dominant victories with clean sheets (5-0, 6-0, 8-0).

### Manchester City

So far, it’s clear that City hasn’t encountered any significant challenges this season. Only top teams like Inter (0-0) and Arsenal (2-2) have managed to hold the "Citizens" at bay, and in both matches, Guardiola's side had the upper hand. Erling Haaland shone again in the match against the "Gunners," scoring 10 goals in just 5 Premier League matches—a remarkable achievement. However, the downside of the game was Rodri’s injury, adding him to the already lengthy injury list that includes De Bruyne, Ake, and Bobb. Given this situation, Pep will likely be cautious about risking key players in the League Cup.

Given the current injury situation, Pep will likely want to avoid risking key players in the League Cup.

### Watford

The "Hornets" are currently mid-table in the Championship. They started the season strong with five wins, but their momentum quickly waned, and in their last three matches, they've scored only two goals without securing a win. Last weekend, Tom Cleverley's side suffered a heavy defeat to Norwich (1-4). During that match, they lost key players Daniel Bachmann and Francisco Sierralta, which is a significant setback. Traveling to the Etihad in this form poses a considerable challenge, especially considering the history of how matches against Man City typically go for the "Yellows."

### Goal Prediction

Guardiola is likely to implement a substantial rotation, bringing many young players onto the pitch, which could lead to mistakes. Chances will arise at both ends, especially given the high-scoring nature of recent encounters—at least four goals were scored in nine of the last ten meetings. We’re confident that this match will see over 3 goals.