Manchester City vs Porto
It has become their ultimate quest. A club’s search for a holy grail, a title which would go some way to justifying lavish expenditure on a scale football has not witnessed before.
Now as they prepare to launch yet another tilt at the trophy, can Manchester City finally claim Champions League glory?
Even before they were taken over in 2008, no side had ever been so expensively assembled as that at the Etihad Stadium.
Yet still, European glory eludes them.
In fact, they’ve gone backwards in the competition in the four years since Pep Guardiola, twice a tournament-winning coach with Barcelona, came to take over a side that had been beaten semi-finalists a few months earlier.
Since then, the side has failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals and has also been knocked out once at the Last 16 stage.
After such investment, they really need to deliver at Europe’s top table – so could 2021 be their chance to deliver tangible Champions League highlights?
Talking Points
It’s only a matter of weeks since it seemed a breakthrough had actually been made as City beat opponents that had dominated the competition, Real Madrid, home and away, only to then surprisingly lose to unfancied Lyon in the quarter-finals.
At this moment in time, City may not seem as strong defensively as they once were but, if new signings Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias prove worthwhile recruits, that could all change very quickly.
Let’s face it, no side with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne in its ranks is going to be lacking attacking wise.
Aguero will no doubt get some more game time after making his first start since June in Saturday’s success over Arsenal.
It will be good for the Argentine to be allowed to concentrate on the football too after some journalists decided to create an issue out of an incident which occurred in the same game – talk about make something out of nothing but that is the world in which we live!
It remains to be seen if De Bruyne is fit enough to join him in the starting line-up after he missed the weekend encounter with an injury picked up on international duty.
Porto have made a similar start to City in their domestic league this season with two victories, one draw and one defeat – dangerous in attack yet unconvincing in defence.
The Dragons, who recently sold Brazilian international Alex Telles to City’s rivals Manchester United, have generally been struggling to find their best form, particularly in a surprise 3-2 home defeat to Maritimo.
Without long-term absentees for their trip to Manchester, including star defender Ivan Marcano and shot-stopper Mouhamed Mbaye, they warmed up for this encounter with a 3-0 at Rio Ave in the Primeira Liga on Sunday, courtesy of goals from Luca Waldschmidt (two) and Gabriel Appelt Pires.
With full respect, the task they face in midweek will be at a much different level.
In many ways, this is a free hit for Porto who will know games against Olympiakos and Marseille are likely to determine whether they progress to the knockout stages.
History
Given City’s lack of regular European action until the past decade, you won’t be surprised to know these sides have only met twice competitively.
That was in the 2012 Europa League when City progressed in the last 32 tie with ease.
The first leg in Porto was closely contested as a late goal from substitute Sergio Aguero clinched a 2-1 victory against the competition holders,
The second leg was a far more one-sided affair as the hosts ran out 4-0 winners (6-1 on aggregate), thanks to goals from Aguero, Edin Dzeko, David Silva and David Pizarro.
In the Porto line-up that day were future City signings Fernando and Nicolas Otamendi, while their future right-back Danilo played in the first leg.
Betting Tip
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Manchester City vs Porto | Manchester City First Half Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.00 |
| October 22, 03:00 (GMT+8) |
The SBOTOP Champions League betting odds make City overwhelming favourites to win this Group C opener.
You can get 1X2 odds on them @ 1.26 with Porto adrift @ 8.75 and even the draw a long shot @ 6.00.
It is similar with Asian Handicap betting odds with the hosts priced -1.50 @ 1.79 and -1.75 @ 1.99, whereas Porto are available to back +1.75 @ 1.94 and +1.50 @ 2.16.
A repeat of their last meeting at the Etihad Stadium eight years ago – correct score 4-0 – is on offer @ 13.50 and, while I do not think that will happen again, I suspect City will win with something to spare.
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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