Man City vs Real Madrid Champions League Betting Tips

For Manchester City fans this season must feel a bit like the old days. Regular poor results, often shambolic defending and a team of players that look like they’ve never even met each other before.

 

Yet there have been a couple of occasions where it looks like City are over their nightmare run, only for another shocking result to happen. 

 

When the on-loan Spurs youngster Jamie Donley hit a shot from 40 yards out for Leyton Orient that bounced back off the bar before hitting City keeper Stefan Ortega and hitting the back of the net in the FA Cup on Saturday, City fans could be forgiven for thinking, “Oh no, not again!”

 

Nico Gonzalez then went off injured on his debut before City staged a second half comeback to win the tie 2-1, much to the relief of everyone at City. But the form is still worrying. So who better to play in their next game than reigning Spanish and European champions, Real Madrid, in a mouth watering Champions League game?!

 

 Match Betting Odds

 

(Please note all odds are correct at time of publishing)

Man City 13/10 (Coral)

Draw 11/4 (Ladbrokes)

Real Madrid 15/8 (Bet365)

 

On the same day that City were struggling at Leyton Orient, Real Madrid faced a tough assignment of their own. Their home fixture with local rivals, Atletico, ended in a 1-1 draw. That result sees them remain at the top of La Liga, one point clear of Atletico and five points clear of Barcelona.

 

That is in stark contrast to City who find themselves in fifth position, 15 points behind leaders Liverpool and for the first time in years, in serious danger of not even making the Champions League next season.

 

We think the 15/8 that Bet365 are offering for Real Madrid to win is great odds. We know City are at home and usually you’d take them to win or draw, but this City team isn’t the same as previous seasons. Especially without Rodri. 

 

Man City 11/10 (Ladbrokes)

Real Madrid 3/4 (Bet365)

 

We do fear the worst for City. We’d love to be wrong, but we could conceivably see Madrid winning both legs. City are at their most fragile for a number of seasons now, while Madrid’s front three are really starting to purr. That the odds are so close is down to historical results between the two teams (4 wins for City, 5 draws and 3 wins for Madrid) and on past performances from City in both the Champions League and the Premier League, the most successful English club by far over the last 13/14 years.

 

But this City team isn’t all conquering like that one. They are fragile, easy to get at, they fall apart under pressure. The 3/4 for Madrid to qualify is massively generous from the bookmakers, and gets our biggest 10 point bet.

 

 

Man City 1-0 12/1 (BetFred)

Man City 2-0 14/1 (Bet365)

Man City 2-1 17/2 (Bet365)

Man City 3-0 22/1 (BetFred)

Man City 3-1 18/1 (BetFred)

Man City 3-2 18/1 (Bet365)

Draw 0-0 20/1 (Bet365)

Draw 1-1 7/1 (BetFred)

Draw 2-2 10/1 (Bet365)

Real Madrid 1-0 14/1 (BetFred)

Real Madrid 2-0 18/2 (Bet365)

Real Madrid 2-1 10/1 (BetFred)

Real Madrid 3-0 22/1 (BetFred)

Real Madrid 3-1 18/1 (BetFred)

Real Madrid 3-2 20/1 (Bet365)

 

We’d normally expect the first leg of a Champions League tie like this to be a tight affair, with the odd goal or two scored. But City’s defence has often been an absolute shambles this season, uncharacteristically for them. While Real Madrid have the trio of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo up front, with Jude Bellingham tucked in behind. A truly terrifying prospect for any defence, never mind one that is leaking goals (City have conceded more goals than any other side in the top seven, one more even than 13th placed Man United and SEVEN more than 16th placed Everton).

 

However, City are capable of scoring goals against anyone; they have scored an average of two goals a game in the Premier League and more than two goals a game in the Champions League so far this season. Not to mention the fact that Madrid have serious injury problems in defence, meaning City will surely be capable of scoring a goal or two.

 

With the attacking talent on display for both sides, we can see a few goals here. We will go with a small stake on a 3-2 win for Real Madrid.

 

As already mentioned, Rodri misses out through injury but has been registered to play in this season’s Champions League, raising hopes he will be available at some stage if City do progress. Nathan Ake and Jeremy Doku are serious doubts, there’s a small concern over Ederson, while new signing Vitor Reis was no added to the Champions League squad so is ineligible.

 

With Dani Caravjal and Lucas Vazquez both injured, Madrid will probably field Fede Valverde at right back, a potential vulnerable spot for City to attack. Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba are all still out, leaving Madrid’s backline looking weak.

Real Madrid to win the first leg 15/8 (Bet365) – 4 points

Real Madrid to qualify 3/4 (Bet365) – 10 points

Real Madrid to win 3-2 20/1 (Bet365) – 1 point

 

And although not an official tip due to the odds, you’ve got to think the 4/9 for both teams to score with Bet365 is a certainty, and one for the real big hitters to have a lumpy bet on.