Manchester City welcome Brentford to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night with a place in the EFL Cup semi-finals at stake, as two Premier League sides collide in the first of the competition’s all-top-flight quarter-finals this season.
While domestic and European ambitions continue to dominate the wider narrative around Pep Guardiola’s side, the League Cup offers a familiar stage on which City have previously thrived.
For Brentford, the tie represents another chance to push beyond a barrier that has repeatedly halted their progress in recent years.
City chasing a familiar prize after winning six of the last eight
Manchester City’s relationship with the EFL Cup is a special one. For much of the last decade, the competition felt almost like a private playground for Guardiola’s team, who lifted the trophy six times in the past few years.
However, since their most recent final success against Tottenham Hotspur, the Sky Blues have failed to make a deep run, falling short of the latter stages and, notably, not progressing beyond the quarter-finals.
That recent history gives Wednesday’s contest added meaning. City have a habit of turning quarter-final victories into silverware, having gone on to win the tournament after each of their last six successes at this stage.
The exception came in the 2022-23 campaign, when Southampton ended their defence prematurely. A win over Brentford would therefore feel like a significant step towards restoring their former dominance in the competition..
Their route to the last eight has been controlled rather than spectacular. Comfortable victories over Huddersfield Town and Swansea City ensured safe passage, and Guardiola has largely used the competition to rotate while maintaining high standards.
That balance has served City well across all fronts. They arrive at this tie having won five consecutive matches in all competitions, a run that underlines their consistency as the season gathers momentum.
The weekend’s 3-0 Premier League victory away at Crystal Palace offered another reminder of City’s efficiency.
Home form has been another pillar of City’s strength. Nine wins from their last 10 matches at the Etihad tell their own story, with the only blemish coming in a Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.
Against that backdrop, the EFL Cup semi-finals come at the right time as City will be heavy favourites to progress, especially considering Brentford’s struggles on the road in recent weeks.
Brentford’s journey to this stage has arguably been more demanding. Unlike City, who have faced lower-league opposition so far, the Bees eliminated both Bournemouth and Aston Villa before being handed a more forgiving fourth-round tie.
They made light work of Grimsby Town, scoring five times through five different players to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Despite that impressive run, the EFL Cup has often proved to be a stumbling block for the west London club. This is the fourth time in six seasons that Brentford have reached the last eight, yet only once have they progressed further, reaching the semi-finals in 2021 before losing to Tottenham.
Last season, their hopes ended at this same stage against eventual winners Newcastle United.
Current form does little to suggest that history will be rewritten. Going into the EFL Cup semi-finals, Brentford are without a win in their last three matches, the most recent being a 1-1 draw at home to newly-promoted Leeds United.
On another day, that contest could easily have ended in defeat, with Leeds creating more than twice the expected goals and total shots.
Away from home, the picture is even bleaker. The Bees have lost their last four matches on their travels, conceding at least twice in each of those defeats.
Meanwhile, City’s narrow 1-0 league win over Brentford in October extended their unbeaten run in this fixture to five games, further tilting the balance in favour of the hosts.
Manchester City and Brentford injury news
Manchester City’s preparations have been complicated by a handful of injuries and absences. Jeremy Doku was a surprise omission from the squad that travelled to Selhurst Park at the weekend, with Guardiola later confirming that the Belgian winger was dealing with a leg problem.
At present, there has been no clear update on how serious the issue is, leaving his involvement in doubt.
John Stones is another concern for the hosts. The experienced defender continues to manage a thigh problem, and City are unlikely to take unnecessary risks with such a key player at this stage of the season.
In midfield, Rodri remains sidelined with a hamstring injury that is not expected to fully heal until later in the month, while Mateo Kovacic faces a lengthy absence as he recovers from a calcified ankle issue.
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Brentford, meanwhile, have received some welcome news on the selection front. Kevin Schade returns from suspension and is expected to bolster their attacking options, offering pace and directness that has occasionally been missing in recent matches.
His availability will be particularly important given Brentford’s need to relieve pressure against City’s sustained possession.
There is also optimism surrounding Reiss Nelson. The Arsenal loanee, who found the net in the emphatic win over Grimsby Town, has been nursing a minor knock but could recover in time to feature.
However, Keith Andrews will still be without several key figures. Josh Dasilva, Antoni Milambo and Fabio Carvalho all remain sidelined with knee injuries, limiting Brentford’s midfield and attacking flexibility.
Man City predicted starting lineup:
Trafford; Lewis, Khusanov, Ake, O’Reilly; Reijnders, Silva; Bobb, Cherki, Savinho; Haaland
Brentford predicted starting lineup:
Valdimarsson; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Henry; Henderson, Yarmoliuk; Schade, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter; Thiago