Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
Best Odds: 9/1
Bookmaker: Betfair
Marseille will lock horns with Manchester City in the Champions League this week. The Group C match at Stade Velodrome is slated to kick off at 8pm UK time on Tuesday, and it promises to be a hugely exciting and entertaining game of football.
Marseille
Marseille kicked off their 2020-21 Champions League campaign on a disappointing note. Andre Villas-Boas’s side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Olympiakos away from home in Greece last week. Ahmed Hassan’s goal in the first minute of injury time proved to be the difference between the two sides. The French club bounced back from that loss with a narrow 1-0 victory over Lorient away from home in Ligue 1 at the weekend.
Les Olympiens finished second in Ligue 1 last season, and they are doing quite well in the league this campaign as well. Villas-Boas’s side are just three points behind leaders and defending French champions Paris Saint-Germain in fourth place and will fancy their chances of challenging for the title.
A win against City at home will be massive in Marseille’s quest for European success. However, a defeat could be detrimental to their chances of progressing to the last-16 stage of the Champions League this season, with FC Porto and Olympiakos also eyeing the runners-up up spot in the group. Premier League giants City are the favourites to win Group C.
Team news:
Former West Ham United attacking midfielder Dimitri Payet was suspended for Marseille’s Ligue 1 game against Lorient, but the Frenchman is set to start against City. Striker Dario Benedetto is likely to lead the line.
Manchester City
Manchester City kicked off their 2020-21 Champions League campaign on a positive note. The former Premier League champions got the better of FC Porto 3-1 in their opening Group C game at the Etihad Stadium last weekend. However, it was not all plain sailing for Pep Guardiola’s side. The Citizens actually fell behind after just 14 minutes when Luis Diaz found the back of the net.
City will hope to have an easier ride against Marseille in France on Tuesday evening. The Citizens will head into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw with West Ham United away from home at the London Stadium in the Premier League. The result means that City are now five points behind Everton and defending champions Liverpool, who are first and second respectively in the Premier League table.
The Citizens have long wanted to win the Champions League, but they have always fallen short. Guardiola will hope that he can take the team to the promised land this time around in what could be his final season as manager of the club.
Team news:
Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is available for City and so is America Laporte for the match against Marseille. Benjamin Mendy and Gabriel Jesus are out, and so are Nathan Ake and Sergio Aguero.
Key Factors to Consider
- Manchester City have never won a Champions League game in France.
Marseille have lost their last 10 Champions League matches.
Manchester City have scored 38 goals in their last 14 Champions League games.
Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy played for Marseille between 2013 and 2016.
Marseille have not won any of last six matches against English clubs.
Conclusion
Marseille will not be easy for City, and the French club will be determined to at least pick up a point. With the Citizens missing some big players such as Aguero, there is a chance that they could end up with just a point.
Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
Best Odds: 9/1
Bookmaker: Betfair
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
