Manchester City vs Leeds United (Premier League): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head & How To Watch
Manchester City look to bounce back from consecutive defeats as they welcome struggling Leeds United to the Etihad Stadium.
Preview
After back-to-back defeats across competitions, Manchester City host an **18th-placed Leeds United** team who have won just one of their last six matches.
What once looked like a routine fixture now carries major weight for both clubs.
City entered the international break with optimism after a commanding **3-0 win over Liverpool**, but that momentum has since evaporated. Their last Premier League outing saw them lose 2-1 at St James’ Park, despite Ruben Dias scoring his first league goal since 2021.
A heavily rotated side then fell **0-2 to Bayer Leverkusen** in the UEFA Champions League, leaving the squad searching for confidence.
Leeds United, meanwhile, arrive on the back of three straight defeats to Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and Brighton. Sitting in **18th place**, they are desperate for points to escape the relegation zone. A shock win at the Etihad could lift them out of the bottom three.
A win for Manchester City could push them into **2nd place**, but another slip could drop them as low as **5th**. With Arsenal facing Chelsea on the same day, the ripple effects on the table could be significant.
Match Details
Fixture: Manchester City vs Leeds United
Date: Saturday, 29 November
Kick-off: 15:00 (UK)
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Match Officials
Referee: Peter Bankes
He last officiated Manchester City during their 0-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur earlier this season.
Team News
Manchester City:
– **Mateo Kovacic** remains sidelined following heel surgery, with a return expected in the new year.
– **Rodri** continues recovering from a hamstring injury and is unavailable, though Pep Guardiola says he is “not much far away.”
Leeds United:
– **Sebastian Bornauw** is a doubt with MCL issues and will undergo a late fitness test.
– **Anton Stach** is ruled out under concussion protocols following a collision vs Aston Villa.
– **Sean Longstaff** will miss around four weeks due to a calf injury.
Pep Guardiola’s Pre-Match Quotes
Pep Guardiola: “Not much disappointed about Newcastle but the last one vs Bayer Leverkusen, yeah — for my decisions and we didn’t try. Simple as that.”
Pep Guardiola: “I had a lot of confidence in them. Still right now I have a lot. It was a good lesson for me, even with a lot of experience as a manager.”
Statistics
- Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 18 games vs newly promoted sides (last defeat: Leeds, 2021).
- Erling Haaland sits on 99 Premier League goals in 109 games — a goal on Saturday makes him the fastest player ever to reach 100.
- A Leeds win would see Daniel Farke become the first manager to beat Guardiola’s City with two different promoted clubs.
- Manchester City have won their last six home matches, all by 2+ goals.
- Leeds have lost five of six away games this season, conceding 15 goals.
- Haaland averages 1.17 goals per game this season — on pace to surpass his record-breaking 2022/23 rate.
Head to Head
Manchester City have won the last **four meetings** against Leeds with an aggregate score of **18-2**.
Leeds last beat City in 2021 in a dramatic 1-2 win inspired by Stuart Dallas.
Pep Guardiola’s record vs Leeds: **4 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat**.
Across their six meetings, the fixture averages **four goals per game**, often producing high entertainment.
How To Watch
There is **no live TV broadcast in the UK** due to the 3PM Saturday blackout rule.
BBC Radio 5 Live will provide live commentary.
FAQ
Q1: Is this match on TV in the UK?
No, due to the 3PM blackout. Only radio commentary is available.
Q2: Who is refereeing the game?
Peter Bankes is the match referee.
Q3: How many players are missing for Manchester City?
Rodri and Kovacic are confirmed out.
Q4: Can Leeds escape the relegation zone with a win?
Yes, depending on other results.
Q5: What record can Erling Haaland break?
He can become the fastest player ever to reach 100 Premier League goals.
Conclusion
Saturday’s match between Manchester City and Leeds United carries far more weight than expected at this stage of the season.
City need victory to regain momentum and stay in touch with the Premier League leaders, while Leeds are fighting to escape the relegation zone.
With key injuries, tactical uncertainty, and historic milestones in play, this fixture could become a defining moment in both clubs’ seasons.
