Betting News – Manchester City vs Bayern Munich

Coming off the back of a few strange results, Manchester City face the sternest test of their Champions League credentials in the shape of Bayern Munich. City were sensational as they thrashed Manchester United 4-1 at the Etihad a week ago. However, they were ineffective and sloppy against Aston Villa and succumbed to a 3-2 defeat away from home. They will be hoping their great home form can continue against Pep Guardiola’s Bayern, with progress from the group stages very much dependent on how they do in their own back yard. For Bayern, this is a chance to show they are still among Europe’s elite with a new manager.

For Manchester City, it will be important to get their team shape right for this game. They have gone 4-4-2 for most of the this season, with Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo up front. However, Bayern are a different animal and playing with two central midfielders against a Pep Guardiola team could spell disaster. It is likely that Yaya Toure and Fernandinho will be joined by Javi Garcia or David Silva in the center of midfield. Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas can patrol the wings, with Aguero being the lone front man. If City are chasing the game, or looking for a late goal, they can bring on Negredo or Dzeko for greater attacking threat.

Guardiola’s Bayern are the favorites to win this year’s Champions League. Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery will be their main threats, along with Mario Gotze, Tony Kroos and Thomas Muller. Their fluency, ability to shift from attack to defense, and devastating counter attacks will cause City a lot of problems. Even if City play to the best of their ability, it is difficult to look past a Bayern win for this game.

Bayern are 11/10 favorites to win this game, with City and the draw priced at 12/5. For a game of this magnitude, a City win is not a bad bet given the odds. They may be the underdogs, but if they defend diligently and attack with pace they could give Bayern a few problems. Chelsea took Bayern to penalties, and City are a far superior team. 12/5 is great odds when you consider that City are a top team playing at home, and their need to win is probably greater than Bayern’s. Whatever the result, this is definitely the pick of this week’s Champions League games.