Manchester City vs Real Madrid
It doesn’t get much bigger than this folks! Manchester City host Real Madrid in their second leg Round of 16 match. And whichever way the result goes, the European football world will rock!
The Champions League has been the Sky Blues’ Holy Grail from midway through the Premier League season, and head coach Pep Guardiola has a steely determination in his pursuit of Europe’s biggest prize.
The hosts go into the game with a 2-1 lead and should they see the tie out and then they will be favourites to win the trophy.
On the other hand, if Los Blancos can upset the odds, then Zinedine Zidane will still be in the hunt for an incredible fourth European crown in five seasons as Real Madrid boss.
Make no mistake about it. When the Champions League 2020 results roll in at the end of this week, all eyes will be on this clash at the Etihad.
Talking Points
Ruthless City
Here at SBOBET, we’re backing the Sky Blues to go deep into the competition, but there’s a long way to go with the best sides in Europe still in the hunt.
FC Bayern and Paris Saint Germain, in particular, will fancy their chances. However, on their best day, Manchester City can blow away any competition.
Since the return of football and having already lost the domestic title, the Sky Blues set about their opponents with a ruthless determination and handed out thrashing after thrashing.
Over the last few weeks, they have had four 5-0 wins and a couple of 4-0 victories, and one of those were against the new Premier League champions in Liverpool!
Raheem Sterling finished with 20 goals, just three behind Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy and at an impressive 133 minutes per goal. He also has five in the Champions League and he is just one part of a brilliant City attack.
With Kevin de Bruyne and the mercurial David Silva pulling the strings, the Sky Blues can open up any defence seeming at will.
Young Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus has 14 goals and seven assists as well as matching Sterling’s five goals in the Champions League.
Then there’s Sergio Aguero who is the best striker in the Premier League over the last decade, and he will be joined by Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva. The Madrid back four has its work cut out for them!
Relentless Blancos
Since returning to action, Zinedine Zidane has inspired Real to a phenomenal run in La Liga to take the title away from Barcelona who were seeking a third successive league trophy.
Ten consecutive wins returned the title to the Bernabeu, but Los Blancos’ wins were efficient rather than spectacular as they scored either one or two goals in each of the last nine games.
Karim Benzema has carried the Real Madrid attack on his shoulders this season with 21 goals and eight assists, while their second highest scorer is captain and centre-back Sergio Ramos who scored an impressive 11 – including a couple of late penalties in 1-0 wins which drove Los Blancos on to La Liga glory.
The Spaniards need to open up against City and that could lead to them conceding at the other end. However, they can’t sit back for long.
19-year-old Brazilian sensation Rodrygo could be the player to watch as he will be looking to add to his four goals and four assists in the competition.
History
Recent Champions League history is dominated by ZZ and Real Madrid as he became the first head coach to win three consecutive titles between 2016 and 2018, and that is a record the Sky Blues would love to emulate but they would have to win one first!
Guardiola won the tournament twice with Barcelona, but the last occasion was in 2011 and that fact will be eating away at him as he strives to win a first for the Sky Blues.
In the head-to-heads, Los Blancos have won three of the seven games played since 2012, with City winning two and there have been two draws.
Kevin de Bruyne’s master class turned the first leg around at the Santiago Bernabeu as the Sky Blues fought back from a goal down with a double strike in the last 12 minutes.
First, Jesus nodded home the equaliser. And when Sterling drew a penalty, de Bruyne swept the spot kick home.
Real Madrid are unbeaten in 11 games while the Sky Blues have won the last seven at the Etihad. Something has to give for this fixture.
Betting Tip
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Manchester City vs Real Madrid | First Half Over 1.25 @ 1.86 |
| August 8, 03:00 (GMT+8) |
According to the latest Champions League 2020 betting odds, Manchester City are marginally second favourites to lift the trophy at odds of 4.40, with FC Bayern at 4.30.
Guardiola’s team is as short as 1.12 to progress to the next round. But for this game, the Sky Blues are at 1.68 to win, with Real Madrid at 4.10 and the draw at 3.95.
I expect City to prevail, and with goals for both sides with a fast start to the game.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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