Manchester’s two clubs are in Champions League returns on Tuesday, as Man City travel to Hoffenheim, and Man United host Valencia.
United won their opener against Young Boys, while City were stunned at home to Lyon – and our Champions League betting expert has taken a look at the best tips for their second group stage fixtures this week.
Hoffenheim v Manchester City
City’s Champions League campaign got off to the worst possible start against Lyon – despite coming in as overwhelming favourites, Pep Guardiola’s men were turned over in a shock 2-1 defeat.
Incredibly, that result was City’s fourth straight Champions League loss in a row – the most by any English team – and leaves them playing catch up already.
Luckily for City, there are still five group games to make amends – starting at Hoffenheim on Tuesday.
Highly regarded manager Julian Nagelsmann’s side have started the Bundesliga season shakily, winning just two of their opening seven matches, and they were held to a 2-2 draw by Shakhtar Donetsk in their first match of the group.
The Germans will have their work cut out as they chase their first win in their maiden Champions League season. They are 7/1 with Grosvenorsport.com to win here.
After a result like the Lyon defeat, a reaction will be expected from City and I think they’ll be itching to get back to winning ways.
City have followed that setback with three successive domestic wins without conceding, and I think they’ll continue in that vein against Hoffenheim.
A straight City win looks quite short at 4/11, so I’d recommend backing City to win to nil at 7/4 instead.
Manchester United v Valencia
Since Man United last played in the Champions League, things have started to go badly wrong for Jose Mourinho.
United have been dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Derby, and fell to defeat to West Ham at the weekend – all while a reported bust-up between Mourinho and Paul Pogba has dominated headlines.
Pogba scored twice in that opener against Young Boys, but Valencia will surely prove a much sterner test.
United are 4/6 to claim victory here.
Valencia have certainly recovered since former United defender Gary Neville’s ill-fated spell in 2015/16, where they finished narrowly above the La Liga drop zone.
They qualified for this year’s competition after finishing fourth in the Spanish league last year, and in Rodrigo, have a striker capable of worrying any defence.
They haven’t been quite as effective this term, however, drawing five of their seven league matches, and being turned over by ten-man Juventus in matchday one.
Valencia are 5/1 to win at Old Trafford.
I’m not sure if they’ll seal victory, but I can certainly see them making life difficult for United on Tuesday.
Mourinho’s men look devoid of inspiration when trying to unlock packed defences on their home turf, and given Valencia’s spate of draws, they are tough to beat.
I like the look of the draw at 11/4 – with a correct score of 1-1 at 6/1 looking like a shrewd selection.
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