If there is one team in the world who can be happy with their performance in the last decade without almost any regrets, it is the blue team from Manchester. A polar opposite from their red neighbors, City has been dominating European football over the last 10 or so years. Thanks to their smart business moves, a lot of unpaused investment from the owners, and the fact that they keep bringing in top-level talent, they are once again in contention for several trophies and have a strong roster. However, they did enter a rough patch as of late.
Of course, all great teams go through tougher periods and it seems like this is it for Man City. They have a few surprising losses under their belt over the last two weeks and with injuries to some of their starting XI, it looks like more of the same will soon come their way. Still, they are one of Europe’s best-equipped rosters and with a long bench that can save them in hard situations. Join us as we explore what is to come following this upcoming international break. Can they turn it around both in England and in UCL? Those of you who are online sports betting fans will benefit the most from these news and predictions so stay tuned.
Worst Stretch since 2020
Do you want to talk about a slump? Well, just look at the recent record that the team has put together. Pep Guardiola finds himself in unfamiliar waters, the likes of which he had not been, ever. Considering the teams he managed and the players under him, it does not surprise that this is his worst period as a manager. But it was bound to come some time, right? Anyway, the defending Premier League champion lost their fourth straight game in all competitions, a 2 - 1 loss at Brighton. This now makes them 5 points short of Liverpool who are playing exceptionally well and sitting comfortably at the top of the standings. Their biggest rival beat Aston Villa 2 - 0 and therefore secured their dominant start.
It is not just Guardiola who is experiencing such a tough time either. City have not lost four games in a row for a long time. We have to go back to the days before their recent fame and dominance. It was in 2006 when they put together such a poor stretch, 2 years before Abu Dhabi owners took over the team and revamped it from the ground up. It was also 10 years before Pep would arrive and start bringing trophies to the case every season. He was already asked whether this was the end of an era, to which he simply said, “It’s what the people want, right? That’s normal, we won a lot. I would just like to have all the squad [available].” And injuries have indeed decimated his ranks.
However, it will be more of the same going forward as many of his best are sidelined at the moment. The biggest blow comes in the form of Rodri, the Ballon d’Or winner, who is out for the season. His ACL injury means that the best player on the planet right now, according to the stats and performances last season, will not be able to help them. To make matters worse, the best 4 center-backs in the team are out. Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake were all unavailable, which is why the team could not defend their goal all that well. On the other end of the pitch, the main playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is not yet in form after he too came back from injury.
In the Brighton defeat, City did look good, especially in the first half. Erling Haaland scored his league-leading 12th but it was not enough. In the second half, they deflated and could not match the opponent. Joao Pedro equalized in the 78th minute and then assisted Matt O’Riley in the 83rd. It was a great win for Brighton who is now in the 6th spot with 19 points. Before this, their domestic woes started in Tottenham in the League Cup last week, after which they lost to Bournemouth 2 - 1 in the Premier League. Add a tough UEFA Champions League defeat to Sporting, a 4 - 1 disaster at home, and it is something nobody on the blue side of Manchester hoped for or expected.
Guardiola added, saying “We cannot do it every three days, three days, four days, three days with the situation we have,” commenting on the injuries, adding, “I would love to have the players [back]”. Everyone knows that he is his own biggest critic, and he reminds them, “When we play bad, I am the first to say, ‘Oh, oh’ I don’t like it.’ But I don’t have that feeling.” The proof of this is that the team has indeed been creating chances and scoring, but it is all a far cry from what we are used to. The reason for it is injuries and there is no denying it.
UEFA Champions League Situation
Speaking of the highest tier of European football, City have not been the worst at it but they have certainly hoped for more. Is this their year? Probably not, as they will keep missing key players for the foreseeable future. Rodri was one of the main reasons for their recent success on the biggest stage and his absence is more noticeable there than at home. Add to that the CB struggles and the question arises: who will stop European giants from scoring and who will bring the ball through the midfield to Haaland and Co.?
It is hard to be a City fan right now and do some sports betting on their games. Still, the bookies think of them favorably when it comes to season-long bets. They are still the same team, with the same identity, and they could very well prove the doubters wrong in UCL and overachieve despite the struggles. At the moment, they are in the 10th spot with 2 wins, 1 loss, and 1 defeat. They have scored 10 goals which is tied for the 4th-best with a few other teams. They have allowed 4 goals in the first 4 games which is not that bad, but the overall +6 goal difference is not enough right now. Their point tally is 7 and it will take them at least 2 more wins to be in the top-8 and move on to the next round without playoffs.
Speaking of their upcoming schedule in Europe, they have 4 games remaining. There is no denying it, all of them are games that City can win, especially the next game. On November 26, they are playing against Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium in what should be a walk in the park. Haaland will have a target practice while the defense should focus on keeping a clean sheet. The odds tell this exact story as the home team is the absolute favorite with 1.20, while the guests from the Netherlands are heavy underdogs with 14.00. It goes without saying that Haaland is the target for the exciting 1st goalscorer bet.
Then on matchday 6 on December 11, City is traveling to Turin for a matchup against Juventus. The Italian heavyweight is in the 11th spot right now, just below City with the same number of points, and the same score, but with four fewer goals scored. It will be a great chance for the English side to separate themselves and jump a few spots with a win in this English-Itali derby. The final two games in this first phase come on January 22 and 29, against PSG away and Club Brugge at home, respectively. Again, both of these are City’s for the taking with the Parisian clash the tougher of the two. Still, they will be the favorites, especially against Brugge at home, a great way to end the league phase with a strong showing at home.
Upcoming Premier League Fixtures
Going back to domestic responsibilities in the English Premier League, it will take a lot of work to overcome the red-hot Liverpool while keeping Chelsea and Arsenal away. The two London teams drew their derby 1 - 1 and are playing almost identically well. They are each at 19 points, like Nottingham Forest and Brighton, the two biggest surprises at the top of the table. All four teams are hungry and aware that they are doing great things and will surely not back down entering the toughest stretch of the season. So what is to come schedule-wise for Man City in the following weeks after the international break?
On Saturday, November 23, City is hosting Tottenham in what should be a revenge game to end their losing streak. It started against the Spurs and it should end with them. City needs a resounding win against their old rivals against whom they have had an incredibly positive score in the last 10 years. On top of that, they are playing at home so the support will be there and the atmosphere will be great. De Bruyne should get back in form until then as there is enough time to get the legs under him and deliver those chances that the offense needs. Stake gives the Manchester side great odds of 1.52 to win it, to the Spurs’ 5.60.
After this derby, it is the match of the season. There is no going around it. City must go to Liverpool and take all 3 points if they mean to turn their season around and get back on top. It will be the most difficult game up until then and a true difference-maker that can shape the history of the league, the legacy of Pep, as well as all the boys in blue defending the Manchester City crest. It is in these games when you are the underdog and in a rough position, desperate for a win when legends are made. On December 1, this great derby awaits us, and the sportsbooks give Liverpool the edge, but only slightly. They are favored with 2.45 odds while Manchester has theirs at 2.70. The draw is 3.90, but it will not suffice for a team who is used to so much more.
Outright Manchester City Bets
If you are feeling optimistic right now and want to make some season-long bets, especially in this situation when the team is struggling, it would be a daring move and a nice payout. Of course, the Premier League winner odds are favoring Liverpool right now at 2.20, but City is not too far behind. Their chances sit comfortably at 3.20 and it is a great chance now to capitalize on a slightly less favorable chance for the team to take the prestigious hardware. Top goalscorer? Well, it is out of the question for yet another season. Haaland is taking it with 1.20 odds right now and 12 goals to his name already. Mo Salah will have a tough time catching up to him with 8.50 odds at the moment.
In Europe, City is also a strong candidate to take it all. As a matter of fact, they are leading the bunch, but yet again, Liverpool is close. The Reds are just that good this season and there is no going around them. It is through them wherever you look. If they want a title, they will eventually have to beat their biggest rivals. As the odds are set at the moment of writing, City leads the way with 4.25, a testament to their greatness in the competition despite the recent struggles and injuries. Defending champions Real Madrid is second with 5.25, followed by Barcelona (6.25) and then Liverpool (6.75). Harry Kane, for some reason, is the frontrunner for the top goalscorer with 4.50, while Haaland is second with 5.25 and could overtake him when all is set and done.