Mixed news for Manchester City on Champions League front
Published:It was another glorious weekend for Manchester City domestically, who fired three past Wolves to maintain their five-point gap at the top of the Premier League, but now they need to carry that form into the Champions League.
The 11/10 favourites to win the Premier League haven’t conducted themselves with anywhere near the same confidence and swagger in Europe and are third in Group A ahead of the potentially pivotal matchday four.
After claiming their first victory in the competition last time out against Villarreal in a manner that even manager Roberto Mancini dubbed lucky, they need to complete a double over the 2005-06 semi-finalists in Spain.
Odds of 4/6 show that they are fancied to do just that on Wednesday, despite their hosts ending a seven-game winless streak against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, and they are helped by a long-term injury to former Manchester United striker Guiseppe Rossi.
However, even a triumph at El Madrigal will count for little unless they receive a favour from leaders and clear 1/6 fancies for top spot Bayern Munich when they welcome Napoli to the Allianz Arena.
Walter Mazzarri’s team stayed ahead of Manchester City by holding the Bundesliga table-toppers in Italy, yet are 8/1 outsiders for this one, with Bayern Munich 2/7 to hand them their first ever Champions League defeat.
Encouragement for both those planning to back the Bavarian giants and Manchester City fans was provided on Saturday as Bayern achieved only a second win in five league and European outings by a dominant 4-0 margin against Nurnburg.
Meanwhile, Napoli’s lofty domestic ambitions suffered another surprise blow as they were endured a third loss of the campaign away to Catania.
A Manchester City/Bayern Munich Wednesday night win double can be backed at odds greater than evens on Ladbrokes.
