League One side Oxford United welcome Premier League champions Manchester City to Grenoble Road this Wednesday in the last eight of the Carabao Cup.
The hosts lost at MK Dons at the weekend, ending their 18-game unbeaten run, while City bounced back from their Manchester derby defeat by winning 3-0 at Arsenal.
It’s the first time the U’s have reached this stage of the competition since 1988 – two years after they won it – while the current holders are six times winners of this trophy, with four coming in this decade.
The two also met in this competition last season, with City winning at Oxford 3-0 where Phil Foden scored his first senior goal for the club.
Since their last meeting, things have changed for both sides. Oxford spent much of that season fighting relegation before a late run of results secured a mid-table finish, while City secured the domestic treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
But this season, both sides are having differing campaigns. Oxford are just outside the playoffs and remain in both of the major domestic cups, while City have already lost four league games – the same number as last season – and find themselves 14 points behind league leaders, Liverpool.
Oxford welcomed back Cameron Brannagan and Shandon Baptiste from injury last weekend and both should feature, but seven first-team players remained sidelined.
James Henry, who is the U’s top scorer with ten goals in all competitions, is one key player out injured.
City are still without Leroy Sané, Aymeric Laporte and Sergio Agüero through injury, but Pep Guardiola still has plenty of talent at his disposal.
David Silva has provided three goals and seven assists, Bernardo Silva has six goals and five assists, while Riyad Mahrez has added five goals and ten assists. Gabriel Jesus, who is likely to keep his place with Agüero out injured, has scored ten goals, including a hat trick in their Champions League win at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Oxford saw off Peterborough United, Millwall, West Ham United and Sunderland to reach this stage, while City have eased past Preston North End and Southampton to set up this tie.
These sides have met 14 times since 1974, with City winning seven and the U’s winning five.
Predicted line-up: Jordan Archer, Josh Ruffels, Rob Dickie, Elliott Moore, Chris Cadden, Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, Cameron Brannagan, Shandon Baptiste, Tariqe Fosu, Rob Hall, Matty Taylor.
Prediction: Oxford United 1-2 Manchester City
