It is make or break for the two Manchester clubs, City and United, with neither certain as to whether they’ll be playing Champions League football into the New Year. I’m not sure what’s worse for them, the fact failure to complete their objectives on Match Day 6 will result in elimination or that the Europa League could await them both.
You have to feel for Roberto Mancini, as his Man City charges have it two-fold. Victory at home to Bayern Munich is a must, that’s the first thing – and arguably most difficult, but Villarreal, the team who prop up the group without a single point to their name, must also take points off Napoli at El Madrigal if the Citizens are to make the cut for the last-16.
Because their domestic form has gone awry in recent weeks, and with top spot in the group assured, Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes will more than likely ring the changes. Should he do so, it’s difficult to envisage the Bavarians, whom go into the game having mustered just one win from their last five, denying City the win they so crave.
Meanwhile, City have won their last seven in succession at Eastlands, including Saturday’s 5-1 demolition of Norwich. David Silva and Sergio Aguero in particular will pose all sorts of problems for a Bayern defence that has failed to shut-out any of their previous six opponents, and shipped three in defeat to struggling Mainz in their most recent away assignment.
The 4/6 on Manchester City trumping table-toppers Bayern Munich, who are still shorn of key midfielder Bastien Schweinsteiger, looks extremely generous, especially when paired with Manchester United to comply away in Basel.
United only require a point from their visit to Switzerland in order to qualify, yet I see them taking all three. FC Basel performed remarkably well in the reverse meeting at Old Trafford, which ended 3-3. It was a match they probably should have won as well, having led 3-2 with only added time left to play.
Since then, however, Sir Alex has shut up shop, with his charges keeping six clean sheets in their previous nine matches. Saturday’s narrow win at Aston Villa was the fourth away game in a row where the reigning Premier League champions had managed to ground out the win without shipping any goals. They epitomize efficiency right now.
Of course, there is a legit argument as to who will score the winning goal on Wednesday, what with Hernandez, Berbatov and Owen all out injured. But someone always does. This is Manchester United remember, the team who find a way of winning like no other I know.
If the double lacks appeal, and I suspect it does for most, then you could always take a chance on Ajax squeezing a result out of their home clash with Real Madrid.
A tall order you say? Real Madrid take on Barcelona at the weekend in the first El Clasico of the season, so expect nothing less than a wrath of changes from Jose Mourinho, whose team are already certain to finish top of their group. But even with a much-changed side, the Galacticos will be tough to beat, so the draw may be the only conceivable result for Frank De Boer’s Dutch champs – which just so happens to be a result good enough to send them through.
Individual Odds
Manchester City to BEAT Bayern Munich: 4/6 888Sport
