Celtic vs Manchester City
UEFA Champions League – Group C
Date: Wednesday, 28th September, 2016
Kick-off: 19:45 UK.
Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow.
Reason For Betting Tips
Celtic have had a very up and down start to the season. Brendan Rodgers has instilled an urgency in attack into his Celtic squad, and as such they have been on the right end of hammerings all throughout the domestic season. They have won seven of their eight domestic matches this season, drawing the other one to put them top of the table with a game in hand.
In Europe it’s a different story though. They have lost three, won four, and drawn one of their eight Champions League matches. This was enough to get them into the group stages, but the standard of opposition has been drastically increased in a group that includes Barcelona, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Manchester City. It’s a far cry from their Champions League opener this season against Lincoln Red Imps.
Celtic’s group stage opener couldn’t have gone much worse. Barcelona were absolutely rampant at the Camp Nou. Lionel Messi bagged a hat trick, Luis Suarez got a brace, and both Neymar and Andes Iniesta got on the score-sheet as well, to resign Celtic to a 7-0 defeat, their worst ever European defeat.
This doesn’t bode well for the visit of Manchester City. The visitors beat Swansea 3-1 at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday to maintain their perfect start to the season. They have now won ten in a row under Pep Guardiola, and they haven’t just been edging the games either.
They have scored a very impressive 30 goals in these ten games, including a 4-0 hammering of Borussia Monchengladback in their group stage opener and a number of other four goal hauls. Manchester City also beat Steaua Bucharest 6-2 on aggregate in their Playoff qualifier, and Sergio Aguero has bagged six goals in his two Champions League appearances this season. He also has five in the Premier League to take his tally to 11 goals in six appearances.
Celtic have scored in all eight of their home games this season though, and Manchester City have conceded in four of their five trips away in all competitions. The visiting Manchester City side should have enough about them to get the win on Wednesday, but I am expecting Celtic to find the net. Odds of 8/5 for a Manchester City Win and Both Teams to Score are very good value as well, so I’m backing that alongside a 3-1 correct score prediction at 9/1.
Head To Head
The only previous meeting between these sides ended 2-1 to Manchester City in a friendly in 2009.
Stats
Both teams have scored in 80% of Manchester City's away games this season and Celtic have scored in 100% of their home games.
Team News
Celtic will remain without Dedryck Boyata at the back with his thigh injury.
Kevin De Bruyne is expected to be out for around four weeks, whilst captain Vincent Kompany and Fabian Delph remain sidelined.
