Manchester City v Juventus - Match preview and odds

19:45 pm - Etihad Stadium Group D

Champions League football is back this week, so let’s take a look at one of the stand out games from Tuesday night’s fixture list.

City keen to make their mark

Manchester City have yet to make any impact on the European stage. In recent years they have put in some good performances, especially away from home, but their home form has repeatedly let them down. This will be their fifth Champions League campaign and they have yet to make it beyond the last 16. In total, they have won just two of their last 10 games in this competition.

The new ranking system has done little to help their cause as they find themselves in a group containing last season’s runners-up Juventus, Europa League champions Sevilla and third-placed Budesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Manuel Pellegrini will be keen to see his team to get off to a good start in this competition and they could be facing the reigning Italian champions at just the right time. While City are unbeaten in five Premier League games having yet to concede a goal, the Serie A side have yet to win a league game and are currently languishing in 16th place in the table.

In fact, all of City’s Group D opponents have had stumbling starts to their league campaigns. Could this finally be the year when the City team show their worth in Europe’s elite competition?

Team news

The only big negative for the Manchester side heading into this game is the absence of striker Sergio Aguero. Without his vast experience up front, other players will be expected to step up as the Citizens look to make their most of home advantage. As well as being without their talismanic goal-getter, City will also have to cope without Fabian Delph, Gael Clichy and Pablo Zabaleta who are all injured while Samir Nasri could also miss out. Raheem Sterling and David Silva will both return to the squad after missing the weekend’s trip to Crystal Palace and Kevin De Bruyne could be handed his first start in what would be his Champions League debut.

The Bianconeri will be without Sami Khedira, Claudio Marchisio and Kwadwo Asamoah who are all injured but will be boosted by the return to fitness of Alvaro Morata.

Recent league form

Man City: WWWWW Juve: LLD

Betting odds and tips

The Manchester team have never played in a goalless Champions League match a record that now covers 28 games. You can back Both Teams to Score at 21/20 with Coral. Despite their lack of success in this competition, the home side are clear favourites with the bookies with a best price of 5/6 available. However, Manuel Pellegrini will be desperate not to lose and may take a slightly more cautious approach in this game. Overall, the draw looks like the best bet and can be backed at 13/5 with bet365.

Go To bet365

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15/09/2015     © Frixo 2024