Verdict: Manchester City to win both halves
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Unibet
Desperate to try and find a Champions League boost in midweek, Manchester City will welcome Club Brugge to the Etihad on Wednesday night.
Manchester City
Starting with the hosts, while many would have expected Manchester City to pick up a routine victory at home against Crystal Palace over the weekend, it was an afternoon to forget for the defending Premier League champions. Putting in a flat display at the Etihad and suffering a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Eagles, Head Coach Pep Guardiola has had to deal with a difficult week. Along with suffering their second top-flight loss since opening up the 2021/22 campaign, the Sky Blues also saw their EFL Cup reign come to an abrupt end in the capital. Crashing out thanks to a penalties defeat against a high-flying West Ham, the former Bayern Munich boss will be desperate to pick up a European boost in midweek. Still tipped as a leading pick to book their spot out of Group A, last season’s Champions League finalists were last seen on Champions League duties landing a thumping 5-1 win away at Wednesday’s opponents.
Team News
Still dealing with an injury issue he picked up while on international duties, Ferran Torres will once again miss out on Wednesday night.
Hit with that shock 2-0 loss against Crystal Palace on Saturday, the likes of John Stones and Raheem Sterling will be hoping for a recall.
Club Brugge
As for the visitors, while Manchester City might have struggled to pick up some momentum over the weekend, Club Brugge did manage to land a deserved 2-1 victory against St. Truiden while on domestic duties. However, largely struggling with their consistency since opening up the 2021/22 campaign, Head Coach Philippe Clement will be more than aware that his side face a huge task on Wednesday night. Despite opening this year’s European adventure with four points from their back-to-back meetings against PSG and RB Leipzig, the one-time Genk boss saw his side come crashing back down to earth thanks to that 5-1 drumming last month. If the Belgium outfit are to pull off what would be a stunning upset on foreign soil, they could be calling on Dutch striker Bas Dost to spearhead their charge at the Etihad. Including bagging both goals against St. Truiden last weekend, the former Eintracht Frankfurt striker has scored a brace in back-to-back outings.
Team News
After picking up another booking in the reverse meeting against Manchester City last month, Eder Balanta will serve a suspension in midweek.
However, despite their missing midfielder, Head Coach Philippe Clement has no fresh injuries or suspensions to worry about on Wednesday.
Key Factors to Consider
- When the two sides faced off in Belgium last month, Manchester City picked up a 5-1 victory.
- However, including a 2-0 loss against Crystal Palace over the weekend, City have lost back-to-back matchups across all formats.
- Club Brugge striker Bas Dos has four goals in back-to-back matchups.
- Each of City’s last three Premier League fixtures at the Etihad have finished with under 2.5 goals.
- Four of Club Brugge’s last five Champions League away fixtures have finished with both teams finding the net.
Conclusion
After getting hit with that stunning 2-0 loss against Crystal Palace at the Etihad last weekend, Manchester City will be desperate to put a torrid week behind them. Also crashing out of the EFL Cup away at West Ham, the English heavyweights should be glad to turn their attention back to European duties here. Making the trip out to Belgium last month and storming their way to a 5-1 win on foreign soil, Pep Guardiola will be calling on a similar rampant display. Despite not being at their eye-catching best over the past week, we’re backing Wednesday’s hosts to make it back-to-back Champions League wins on home soil.
Verdict: Manchester City to win both halves
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Unibet
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