(Football news) Less than two months ago, the Citizens defeated the Hatters 6-2 on the road in the FA Cup, with five goals from Erling Haaland at Kenilworth Road.
Real Madrid and Manchester City matchups never cease to amaze, and on Tuesday the football world was treated to another captivating matchup full of goals as the two teams shared the spoils in an exciting 3-3 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal at Santiago Bernabeu.
Bernardo Silva’s second-minute opener was swiftly cancelled out by two deflected strikes from Los Blancos, before two wonderful long-range goals from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol fired the Citizens back in front midway through the second half. However, a stunning low volley from Federico Valverde rescued a draw for Real Madrid to keep the tie finely poised ahead of next Wednesday’s tantalising second leg at the Etihad.
Three seems to be the magic number for Pep Guardiola’s side; not only did they score three Champions League goals for the ninth successive game in midweek, but they also remain on course to retain each of the three trophies they lifted during a historic treble-winning campaign in 2022-23, although they are part of a three-way tussle for the Premier League title this time around and currently sit third in the table.
With both second-placed Liverpool and leaders Arsenal – top on goal difference – playing on Sunday, Man City can momentarily climb to the Premier League summit and two points clear of their rivals with victory on Saturday against a Luton side whom they have already beaten twice away from home this season by an aggregate score of 8-3.
A 2-1 win at Luton on December 12 began the Citizens’ current 16-game unbeaten run in the top flight, including 12 victories and four draws, and they will be confident of further success on Saturday as they make a welcomed return to the Etihad where they have not lost any of their last 40 games across all competitions, just two short of an all-time club record of 42 set between December 1919 and November 1921.
Luton’s 10-game winless run in the Premier League, including seven defeats and three draws, came to an end last weekend when they secured a 2-1 comeback victory at home to Bournemouth.
Marcus Tavernier fired the Cherries into the lead seven minutes after half time, but the Hatters restored parity through Jordan Clark before Carlton Morris sent Kenilworth Road wild when he tapped home a 90th-minute winner – his ninth goal of the season – to seal three crucial points.
Rob Edwards was left “drained” after Luton’s last-gasp victory, but the Hatters boss hailed his side’s “character” to come from behind and claim an “important” victory that keeps them in contention for Premier League survival. Luton remain 18th in the table, but are level on points with 17th-placed Nottingham Forest sitting just outside the relegation zone.
Edwards acknowledged after defeating Bournemouth that he “will probably start losing sleep about Manchester City and trying to think about how to stop them,” knowing that his team will be a significant underdog at the Etihad and that they will be without several players due to injuries.
Luton has lost nine straight away league games by an aggregate score of 27-2. They have only won two of their 16 Premier League away games this season (D3 L13). Luton has also never prevailed in an away league game against the current top-flight champions.
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