Manchester City – Young Boys : Preview & Prediction
Manchester City are already on the verge of qualifying for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) after winning all three of their group stage matches by identical 3-1 scorelines. It was even more comfortable for Pep Guardiola’s side at the weekend when they defeated Bournemouth 6-1, and their fourth consecutive official victory saw them finish top of the Premier League table on Saturday.
Only once has an English team won more than the Cityzens’ current run of 22 consecutive home games, while they have also won nine straight UCL games at the Etihad Stadium, making it difficult to see how anyone can stop the reigning European champions. Even an ankle injury to Erling Haaland may not bother them too much, especially if Jérémy Doku shines as he did against Bournemouth on Saturday when he recorded a goal and four assists!
While Young Boys are unbeaten since losing to Man City on Matchday 3 (G2, E1) and top the Swiss Super League, they have just one point in this season’s UCL group stage (E1, P2). Already five points behind second-placed RB Leipzig, coach Raphaël Wicky knows exactly what his team has to do if they are to achieve anything here, stating that his side must “play a perfect game”.
He has managed it before, when he led Basel to a 2-1 win here in November 2018, but his current club has never won a UCL group stage game away from home (E2, P5), including two winless trips to Old Trafford against Manchester. United in the space of five years (E1, P1). In fact, Young Boys have never won a European match in England (E2, P3), and those five matches were played from early 2010 onwards.
Players to watch: Rodri scored between the 65th and 75th minutes in two of Manchester City’s last four UCL matches, including the winning goal in the final during last season. Much less successful in his scoring appearances, three of Meschak Elia’s four goals for Young Boys this season were his only goal of the game, but all three were scored in defeats.
Key stat: Young Boys have not scored before the 20th minute in their last 11 UCL matches (G2, E4, P5).
Manchester City – Young Boys : Betting Tips
Manchester City – Win Odds: 1.25
