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2025-12-17 - Manchester City vs Brentford
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English League Cup Quarter Final
Wednesday 17th December 2025 - Kick Off 7:30pm
This game is live on TV
Manchester City
A big win at Selhurst Park has maintained the positive momentum that Manchester City have generated across the last three weeks as they round into becoming a genuine Premier League title challenger. In the early years under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City also had considerable success in the League Cup, but there is little doubt that this trophy is the least of the priorities at the start of any season.
However, after failing to win any silverware last season, Manchester City will be keen to continuing progress having already beaten Huddersfield Town and Swansea City in the previous Rounds. Being rewarded with a home tie in the Quarter Final can only be seen as a positive for fans arriving, even if Pep Guardiola is likely to rotate his squad.
Manchester City have moved away from the run of consecutive defeats after returning from the November international break by winning 5 in a row in all competitions. Since losing to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium back in August, Manchester City have won 9 of 10 fixtures played here.
Rodri will not be rushed back, while Jeremy Doku is expected to miss the remainder of the calendar year. John Stones is a doubt and both Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush have departed for the African Cup of Nations. Despite that, Pep Guardiola is expected to bring in new faces for this Quarter Final.
Brentford
In recent years, Brentford have had a lot more success in the League Cup compared with the FA Cup and they are once again enjoying a good run. A home draw in the Quarter Final would have been appreciated, but Keith Andrews and his group have nothing to lose when travelling to the North West for this tie and that gives them some freedom to express themselves.
The away form in the Premier League has been pretty disappointing, but Brentford have beaten Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in this League Cup run. They have also upset Aston Villa on Penalties before comfortably moving past Manchester United's conquerors Grimsby Town.
Brentford were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United on Sunday and they have won 1 of the last 5 games in all competitions, while being beaten in 3 of those matches. The Bees beat Grimsby Town away from home in the League Cup Fourth Round, but Brentford have lost all 4 away fixtures played since that victory.
Kevin Schade is available after being suspended this past weekend, but Dango Outtara has left for the African Cup of Nations.
Head to Head
Manchester City battled for a 0-1 win at the Gtech Community Stadium earlier this season.
Manchester City have also won 3 of the last 4 home Premier League games against Brentford, although the exception was a defeat just before the 2022 World Cup Finals in Qatar.
Prediction
The League Cup Semi Final lineup will have three of the four teams decided by the end of Wednesday evening and players will smell the opportunity to win silverware.
Of course that does not mean that managers will risk key players and Manchester City are likely going to make a number of rotations to the squad.
It should still be a strong team, although the changes will offer some encouragement to Brentford, who have lost a bit of form.
A single win in 5 games is not the kind of form you would want to take into a Quarter Final tie, while Brentford have really struggled away from home. You have to expect Keith Andrews will pick up a strong team, but Brentford have an important game coming up this Saturday and that could be a slight distraction.
Manchester City should still have a team full of internationals on the pitch, even with changes made, and that may give them a slight edge. The in-form Phil Foden and Erling Haaland are not expected to be selected, but others can step up for the home team who can perhaps score a late goal to put a gloss on the final scoreline.
The Pick :
Manchester City 2-0 Brentford
