Manchester City v Barcelona Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 1st November
The Citizens are trailing badly in their UEFA Champions League group to Barcelona, facing a five point deficit and of course a huge goal difference. So the best that the Citizens can hope for at this point, even with a win on Tuesday night, is second place. The Citizens will be looking for a vast improvement in terms of performance against the Catalans this time around as they got it tactically wrong at the Nou Camp and suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat, not even getting close to challenging Barca. Can they restore a bit of pride or even push on for their first Champions League win over the Catalans?
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Manchester City v Barcelona Betting Tips
What can Manchester City produce in this one? They snapped their poor run of form across all competitions with a comprehensive 4-0 win on the weekend in the Premier League at West Brom. So that was a welcome return to top form, but it was by a 4-0 scoreline which they lost at the Nou Camp a fortnight ago against Barcelona. City need to find a way to redress that balance, but that is easier said than done. Even a much improved performance would go a long way. Manchester City have faced Barcelona five times now in the UEFA Champions League and they have lost all five of them. The last time that Barcelona were at the Etihad was back in the 2014/15 season when Luis Suarez secured a 2-1 win for the Catalans. So this season, City have claimed just the one win from their three Champions League games, which will be a bit disappointed by their expectations.
The Citizens though have managed to go unbeaten in their last seven home matches in UEFA Competitions and they haven’t conceded a European goal at home since last December. But on the evidence of the first match up a couple of weeks ago, it is still worth looking over 2.5 goals for a price of 8/15 in this one. Sergio Aguero netted a couple against West Brom on the weekend, snapping a six match drought in all competitions and he is a 6/4 price to score at online betting site Bet365. Kevin De Bruyne was by far their best player at the Nou Camp and he is a 2/1 anytime goalscorer option. Manchester City have scored in just two of their five previous Champions League games against Barcelona. City hold a W3 D3 L2 record at home against Spanish sides, both defeats coming against Barcelona. City held Real Madrid to a 0-0 draw at home in last season’s semi final tie.
It was all too easy for Barcelona in the first leg, helped out by some poor Manchester City defending it has to be said. Lionel Messi bagged himself a hat trick and the Argentinian is a 6/4 shot to score in this return fixture with Luis Suarez the outright favourite in the market at a price of 13/10. Barcelona can boast immense scoring power of course and both teams to score in this one is as short as 4/9 with Bet365, so the bookmakers are expecting goals at both ends. Barcelona do have some key injuries across their back line as they have Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba on the sidelines. So that is something that Manchester City could well profit from if they get their tactics right. Frankly though, any time Barcelona are in action, they are always going to create more chances than they concede so City have to be clinical.
Only three sides in the UEFA Champions League this season are still holding a 100% record and Barcelona are one of those. Their one away game in the group so far saw them edge a 2-1 win at Borussia Monchengladbach. The last time the Catalans went to England was just last season when they made a trip to Arsenal in the round of sixteen and took a 2-0 win at the Emirates. Barcelona’s away record at English clubs is W9 D8 L14, so not the best. However, they have only lost one of their last six away games in the UEFA Champions League with a W3 D2 L1 record in that sequence. Their injury issues at the back may well give City a crack at his, but the visitors are 8/11 to score first in the game.
Manchester City v Barcelona Betting Odds
Man City 2/1 Draw 11/4, Barcelona 13/9
Manchester City v Barcelona Predictions
There should be goals at both ends in this one. City have to be better than they were at the Nou Camp. There’s nothing to lose in this one and actually they may be value to hang in for a draw in this one. Barcelona just need to turn up and put a draw on the board to confirm their place in the round of sixteen and the Citizens would be happy enough with a point against them.
