Leeds United famously defeated Champions-in-waiting Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad last season. Stuart Dallas scored the winner in stoppage time, despite Leeds playing the second half with ten men and having to defend for their lives. Dallas' two goals in the match where the Whites' only shots in the match, compared to 29 for the home team.
However, as incredible as the achievement was, it's important to remember the context. The match came between City's two legged Champions League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund and saw the City team heavily rotated. In fact, Pep Guardiola only started four players against Leeds that had played in the first leg against Dortmund. Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan were brought on from the bench in the second half but Kevin De Bruyne remained an unused substitute.
Of course, this shouldn't taint the achievement of the Leeds team that day but it was certainly helpful that they didn't face the full force of Guardiola's side. Thanks to City progressing to the Champions League semi-finals this season, they could be set for a similar boost when they face the Champions in May.
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City overcame Atletico Madrid last week and now their match against Jesse Marsch's Leeds will come between the two legs of their semi-final clash against Real Madrid. This will likely see a similar situation where Guardiola rests some of his key players, as the Champions League is a competition that City are desperate to win for the first time and the Spaniard is desperate to get his hands on again.
The difference in the scenario this time around is that City are not runaway leaders of the Premier League, as they were last time. Liverpool are only a point behind the league leaders and a slip-up against Leeds could see Jurgen Klopp's side leapfrog them in the table. Therefore, perhaps Guardiola won't rotate as heavily as he did last time around but given that City have come close to the Champions League without winning it, he may be forced to prioritise and this could work in Leeds' favour.
Also, it's notable that City have dropped points four times this season following Champions League fixtures. Whilst City will still be overwhelming favourites for victory - especially given that they defeated Leeds 7-0 at the Etihad earlier this season - the Whites will feel that the odds of an upset have shortened since City progressed in Europe.
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