This one is winnable

Feeling strangely optimistic about this one. It’s a free hit for us, as no-one expects us to get anything. For City, it is sandwiched between two of the biggest games of their season. They will be feeling deflated by Real’s late penalty and the way Benzema chipped it into the net, like he was saying a big ‘ph-u-u-ck you very much’ to City.
They look like they took a couple of knocks too and if Pep rests Bernardo and/or De Bruyne, that could signal a change of tack from Jesse. He’s already played City this season and knows how to get goals against them. This one suits Marsch a lot more than it would suit Bielsa.
City are looking vulnerable at the back. Rodri, Stones and Fernandinho make mistakes. Added to this, players like Raph and Phillips will want to put themselves in the shop window so I expect them to up their game for this one.
City do have depth in their squad but Grealish has yet to convince. As talented as he is, he has yet to show a big match mentality. Sterling is a more serious talent since he has stopped his showboating, but he relies on great service from the midfield and is not so committed to tracking back and searching out possession, something I think City will need to do against us. City will look to stretch us but our zonal marking is better suited to managing the threat. City do not press the opposition as intensively as Liverpool so if we can be resolute, chances will come our way.
Everton recently showed how it can be done and came close to a shock win. It took a lucky deflection and poor refereeing to get City over the line, but Everton had much the better of the game and missed some excellent chances. Our forwards will ask more searchIng questions than Everton’s lot.
This is not to say that City are not a superb team. Of course they are. But they are not invincible and if there is ever a right time to play them, this is it.
Finally, City’s record after big European games is poor - they lost at home to Spurs and drew away at Palace after recent outings.
There is a convenient motif about City being the best club side in the world, but if you look below the surface, there is plenty for us to work on for this game. 2-1 Leeds, Raph to do the damage, and to score himself a sky blue shirt for next season. Better than ending up with the other lot, I suppose.