Our betting expert has three Man City vs Real Madrid tips for Tuesday’s Champions League match at the Etihad Stadium (kick-off, 8pm). Scroll down for the analysis behind his selections.
By Luke Weaser-Seychell
- Manchester City to win @ 5/4 with bet365
- Erling Haaland to score @ 1/1 with bet365
- Federico Valverde to be booked, BTTS, and Rodrygo to score or assist @ 18/1 with bet365
City can grab first leg lead
Holders Real Madrid lost three of their eight league phase matches, but that was still enough to finish ahead of 2023 champions Manchester City, who could only manage three victories, meaning one of the last two winners of the Champions League will crash out before the last 16.
This is the fourth season in a row that these two teams have met in the Champions League, and it’s the 13th clash between the pair.
City’s season has been impacted by injuries and inconsistency, with new signing Nico Gonzalez lasting just 22 minutes of his debut, Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup victory at Leyton Orient. He has been pictured in training this week, so he may have recovered ahead of this game.
Facing the League One side did at least give Pep Guardiola a chance to rotate, but the same cannot be said for Carlo Ancelotti, who had to select his strongest possible XI for Los Blancos’ 1-1 Derbi Madrileno draw against Atletico Madrid.
Ancelotti may again have to select a threadbare defence and, while City’s rearguard is hardly trustworthy, they have the firepower to punish Real and grab a first-leg lead.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid Tip 1: Manchester City to win @ 5/4 with bet365
Hope for Haaland to end Real drought
Erling Haaland has failed to score in his four Champions League appearances against Real, but it hasn’t been because of a lack of trying. His 13 shots in 359 minutes played makes Real the opponent he has faced most in a City shirt without finding the net.
With Kevin De Bruyne having been directly involved in eight goals in eight outings against Real – a joint-competition record – Haaland could get chances.
Against a makeshift back-line the Norwegian can end his Real woe.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid Tip 2: Erling Haaland to score @ 1/1 with bet365
Valverde card headlines Bet Builder
Injury to Dani Carvajal and the lack of a replacement being signed ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s widely anticipated summer move to the Bernabeu has left Lucas Vazquez to fill the void at right-back.
However, he has been ruled out of Tuesday’s tie and another midfielder, Federico Valverde, is expected to cover. The Uruguayan is capable of deputising, but his status as one of the game’s elite midfielders means he is naturally drawn to the ball, leaving space behind.
City’s attacking players, namely Savinho and recent signing Omar Marmoush, could exploit those areas and force Valverde into conceding a card.
Both teams have scored in seven of the duo’s last eight meetings – with them also clashing in this competition in 2019-20, making that a worthwhile inclusion in a Bet Builder, which is concluded with a goal or assist for Rodrygo.
The Brazilian and compatriot Vinicius Junior have both had five goal involvements against City, but Rodrygo is a bigger price to add to his haul and is worth chancing.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid Tip 3: Federico Valverde to be booked, BTTS, and Rodrygo to score or assist @ 18/1 with bet365
