Man City will enter Tuesday’s contest off the back of a frustrating goalless draw at home to Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, and the stalemate certainly came as a surprise considering the team’s form in their four matches leading up to the clash with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.
Indeed, the Citizens had beaten Norwich City, Arsenal and Leicester City in their previous three Premier League games before putting six past RB Leipzig in their Champions League opener.
Saturday’s 0-0 with Southampton was certainly a setback, and Guardiola’s side are fifth in the table, three points behind leaders Chelsea ahead of next weekend’s clash between the two teams at Stamford Bridge.
As mentioned, Man City have won the League Cup on eight previous occasions – the same as Liverpool – and they will be bidding to become the most successful team in the competition this term.
The Citizens have dominated the League Cup in recent years, lifting each off the last four trophies, and they beat Tottenham Hotspur in last season’s final courtesy of a late goal from Aymeric Laporte; it is down the list in terms of priorities this term, but Guardiola’s side have certainly enjoyed themselves in this competition.
Wycombe, meanwhile, were relegated from the Championship last term and are therefore again operating in League One; a promotion push is expected this season, and it has been a solid start to the season, with a total of 14 points from seven matches leaving them in fifth position in the table.
Gareth Ainsworth’s side are only two points behind leaders Wigan Athletic, and they will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 home success over Charlton Athletic on Saturday afternoon.
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Wycombe have had to play two League Cup fixtures to advance to this stage, meanwhile, and they have won both games on penalties, overcoming Exeter City in round one and Stevenage in round two.
The Blues actually reached the semi-finals of the 2006-07 League Cup, losing to Chelsea, but it would be a huge shock if they progressed any further in this year’s competition.
Tuesday’s contest will be the first match between these two teams since April 1999, when Wycombe recorded a 2-1 victory over Man City in a Division Two clash, but it would be fair to say that a lot has changed at the Manchester club since then.
