Super City out for revenge
The Champions League is back on Tuesday and Manchester City can book their spot atop Group F with a win in Lyon.
As far as reality checks go, the evening of September 19 was a big one for the Premier League leaders. Pep Guardiola’s men had strutted their way to four wins and a draw from their opening five league games, but were stung by a brilliant counter-attacking performance from Lyon.
On that occasion, Les Gones used their abundant pace to tear City apart down the flanks but Guardiola’s side have been pretty much flawless since then and waltzed through Saturday’s 4-0 win over West Ham.
Lyon have only lost once since the game at the Etihad, a crushing 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, but Friday’s first clean sheet since October 19 perhaps shows where they often fall down.
The Citizens will look to exploit their defensive shortcomings and goals are expected to be on the agenda, with over 2.5 goals in all eight Group F games so far.
An away win and both to score is a likely outcome at 2.15, while more ambitious punters may want to take a look at over 4.5 goals at 3.15.
Untidy United to edge past Young Boys
Manchester United produced arguably their best performance of the season in September’s 3-0 win over Young Boys and Jose Mourinho will be channelling those memories when the Swiss champions visit Old Trafford.
That evening in Bern saw them play the type of free-flowing football that characterised the club’s glory years and Mourinho’s inability to get his players to repeat such mercurial football has prompted fresh derision.
Young Boys have lost only three times this season but it is telling that all those defeats have come in Group H, with a home draw against Valencia all they have to show for their efforts.
For neutrals, this looks the chance for United to run riot but their lack of cutting edge is a real worry, after again finding themselves wanting in Saturday’s stalemate at home to Crystal Palace.
It sounds a bit negative but the best value in this game might be in the Total Goals markets, with under 2.5 goals worth consideration at 2.30.
Roma ready to make Real suffer
Despite a change of manager and a temporary pick up, it has not exactly been smooth sailing for Real Madrid. Santiago Solari had a mini-impact but admitted his team were second best in Saturday’s shock 3-0 defeat at Eibar.
Tuesday sees them head to Roma who themselves lost 1-0 against a new coach at Udinese on Saturday and like Real, a win will see them qualify from Group G.
Los Blancos are the three-time reigning Champions League holders and have won their last four against the Giallorossi, including a 3-0 victory in the Bernabeu in September, with them 2.15 to win the game.
However, the way Real are shaping up suggests it could be a rough night and all things considered, Roma’s 3.40 looks hugely tempting, especially when you consider they rested the likes of Edin Dzeko, Cengiz Under and Alessandro Florenzi in that defeat in Udine.
