Man City v Real Madrid Betting Tips: Can Sterling see City through?
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The Champions League returns after a five-month break on Friday evening as Manchester City host Real Madrid in the second-leg of their last-16 clash.
Pep Guardiola’s men hold a slender 2-1 advantage from the first-leg back in February thanks to a pair of quickfire goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne.
They’re in pole position to see it through and set up a quarter-final clash with Juventus or Lyon next week, but Los Blancos won’t go down without a fight.
It looks set to be another fascinating European night at the Etihad, and it’s one we’ve previewed in our Man City v Real Madrid Betting Tips.
Match Odds
Real Madrid may have ended the season as La Liga champions, but City remain the odds-on favourites to win both on the night and qualify for the next round.
They’re 7/10 to record a seventh straight home win since the restart, while our traders go a measly 1/8 about them to make it through to the quarter-finals.
The visitors ended the season in sparkling form to seal a first Spanish title in three seasons, and you can be sure Zinedine Zidane will have them fired up for this.
We have them down at 10/3 inside 90 minutes, with 9/2 about them to turn the tie around and qualify for the next stage of the competition.
Neither side has shown a particular love for defending in the Champions League this season, with ten of their 14 matches combined seeing both teams find the net.
Both Teams to Score is 1/2 on Friday night, with 17/5 for Both Teams to Score and the match to end in a Draw.
Talking Tactics
Guardiola’s only real concern ahead of this one is at left-back, where the marauding Benjamin Mendy is unavailable through suspension, leaving Oleksandr Zinchenko to deputise.
Elsewhere, Jesus will continue to spearhead a front three which may include Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez, while Fernandinho should retain his place at centre-half with Nathan Ake ineligible.
Real also have issues at the centre of defence, with captain Sergio Ramos suspended following his red card in the first-leg at the Bernabeu. Eder Militao will partner Raphael Varane in his absence.
Full-back Marcelo is rated a 50/50 chance which could give Ferland Mendy a chance, and up-front Zidane is poised to name an attacking trio of Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema and Rodrygo.
Goalscorer Odds
Jesus hasn’t set the world alight since football resumed, but he can count on a prolific record in the Champions League prior to the season’s suspension.
The Brazilian ace bagged a hat-trick against Dinamo Zagreb in November and followed that up with the opener against Real in February.
He’s 7/5 to Score Anytime or 4/1 to Score First for what would be the ninth time this season in all competitions.
The in-form Sterling is another who holds obvious claims at 13/10 as he bids to add to his five-goal tally in the competition this season, while De Bruyne is an 11/5 shot.
Zidane will be looing towards the ever-reliable Benzema, although the Frenchman has only netted three times in Real’s last ten Champions League away matches. He’s a 7/4 chance.
Elsewhere, Hazard is 10/3 to make City pay, with popular youngster Vinicius Junior available at 7/2 to score his sixth goal of the season.
Match Info
Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
When: 20:00, Friday 7th August
How to Watch: BT Sport 1.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
