Manuel Pellegrini was brought to England with a view to improving his side’s poor Champions League record and Al Hain-Cole expects plenty of goals against the holders
Manchester City face the ultimate test of their Champions League credentials when they welcome European champions Bayern Munich to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
The hosts have failed to make it past the group stage in their previous two campaigns among the continent’s elite but did manage to overcome tonight’s opponents the last time they came to town two years ago, and are available at 11/5 (3.20) with Betway to repeat that feat here.
However, die Roten have reached both finals in the two years since, winning one, and are favourites at 6/5 (2.20) to gain revenge with victory this evening.
Although they have never lost a Champions League fixture on home soil, Manuel Pellegrini’s men have drawn four of their six matches in front of their own fans, and you can get odds of 23/10 (3.30) on them collecting a single point once again in this one.
While his start to life in the Premier League has not yet proved an unmitigated success, Pellegrini was chiefly brought to the Etihad with the remit of improving City’s European record, which has so far proved unworthy of their Middle Eastern owners’ hefty investment.
The Chilean exceeded expectations by taking Malaga to within a whisker of reaching last season’s semi-finals, having previously reached that stage with the equally-unfancied Villarreal, playing an attractive brand of football that no doubt seduced his future employers.
These attacking instincts have particularly been evident in every home game since moving to England, none more so than the recent 4-1 derby win over Manchester United, and should make for a mouth-watering match against Pep Guardiola’s irresistible outfit.
A bet on over 2.5 goals would have paid out in six of the hosts’ eight games this season and four of the visitors’ six, as well as nine of their 15 ties on the way to lifting the trophy last season, so should be more than safe at 7/10 (1.70) tonight.
One man Guardiola will be particularly wary of is Yaya Toure, whom he often played in defence before selling to tonight’s opponents while in charge of Barcelona.
The Ivorian is his club’s top scorer so far this campaign with six strikes in eight games, and is well worth backing for a value bet at 3/1 (4.00) to come back and haunt his old boss with a goal this evening.
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Al Hain-Cole is a Liverpool fan, experienced tipster and avid follower of European football. He specialises in accumulators and if you would like to read more from Al you can follow him on Twitter here.