Manchester City vs Brentford Prediction and Betting Tips | 17th December 2025

Manchester City host Brentford at the Etihad on Wednesday with a place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup at stake. Pep Guardiola's side are hitting peak form at the perfect time and a reassuring 3-0 win over Crystal Palace away from home sets them up nicely for this domestic cup outing against a lacklustre Brentford.

Erling Haaland bagged a brace and Phil Foden completed the scoring for City against the Eagles on Sunday. Crystal Palace's profligacy in front of goal proved costly against a team as clinical and well-rounded as City.

Precision was the difference between the two sides, with Guardiola's men ruthless in taking their chances to secure all three points. The win helped them keep league leaders Arsenal within an arm's length as the season nears the halfway mark.

City's journey to the quarter-finals this season has been a comfortable one, beating Huddersfield Town and Swansea City. The Carabao Cup has been kind to Guardiola since he arrived at the club. The Spanish coach won it in six of his first eight seasons. However, he has not progressed beyond the quarter-finals in recent years.

In stark contrast, Brentford have had to fend off tougher competition to reach this stage of the Carabao Cup. They have had to beat the likes of Bournemouth and Aston Villa to book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

After defeating two top flight opponents in the second and third round of the competition, the Bees were drawn against Grimsby Town. The Mariners were ready to come out swinging after knocking Manchester United out of the competition but Keith Andrews' side blew them to smithereens, thrashing them 5-0 at Blundell Park.

Brentford have, however, picked up just a single win in their last five games across all competitions. They have their work cut out on Wednesday against an in-form City side as they look to progress to the semi-finals of the competition for only the second time in their history.

Manchester City vs Brentford Head-to-Head and Key Numbers

• Manchester City are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Brentford.
• The last time these two sides locked horns in this competition was in 1989. City won that game 4-1.
• Brentford are winless in their last three matches while City have won their last five games on the trot.
• Manchester City have won nine of their last 10 home matches in all competitions.
• City have gone on to win the Carabao Cup in each of the last six seasons where they won the quarter-finals.

Manchester City vs Brentford Prediction

Manchester City's current momentum and home advantage should prove too much for a Brentford side that struggles to contain elite attacking unites. Additionally, City's squad depth and quality of personnel should make this a rather straightforward victory for them.

Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Brentford

Manchester City vs Brentford Betting Tips

Tip 1: Result - Manchester City to win

Tip 2. Game to have over 2.5 goals - Yes

Tip 3: Both teams to score - Yes