Manchester City v Bayern Munich: Still Hope for Premier League champions
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It was Billy Ocean who sang “When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going” and while it remains to be seen as to whether bouffant-haired Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is a fan of 80s pop, it’s a song worth keeping in mind.
Because, despite all the recent anguish against CSKA Moscow, the Citizens’ Champions League fate remains in their own hands.
Win against Bayern and they will go into their final group game knowing victory will see them progress and, despite going down 1-0 last time out to the Bavarians, City do have a half-decent record against Pep Guardiola’s side, making the 12/5 on a home win worth a look.
The naysayers will point to Bayern’s impressive form as more than enough reason for punters to lump on the 11/10 offered by Ladbrokes on victory for the Germans, with the draw offered at 13/5, but we say read on for three top tips that err on the side of optimism.
Joe Hart cannot buy a clean sheet for love nor money at present, with City shipping goals in seven of their last eight, while four of the six wins they have claimed in the Premier League so far this term have come in games where both sides have found the net.
Having beaten Bayern 3-2 in this competition last term, it therefore stands to reason that, if City are to pick up a win, it will come in a game with both teams finding the net – as it did against Swansea over the weekend.
Bayern Munich may be in impressive form but with the Bavarians likely to rest several players having already topped the group, while players like David Alaba and Philip Lahm will miss the game through injury, City could find themselves faring better than normal in front of goal.
City scored two and three goals in their two previous wins over Bayern and with the Bavarians shipping goals to the likes of Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund in recent weeks, City could be in luck here.
If you are going to back anyone to find the net against City then it has to be Germany’s World Cup-winning goalscorer, who heads into this encounter having scored home and away against AS Roma as well s last time out in the Bundesliga against Hoffenheim.
With the likes of Franck Ribery or Arjen Robben resting their weary legs, Gotze will likely feature and looks a good price to score, though whether it upsets the City applecart remains to be seen.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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