Sports Blog 25/11/2015: Match Preview – UEFA Champions League, Wednesday 25th November 2015

With double wins for the Champions League’s London sides on Tuesday, it’s the turn of the two Manchester teams to impress this Wednesday evening.

First up is arguably the more important match of the two, as Manchester United host PSV Eindhoven at 7.45pm on BT Sport Europe. Group B remains one of the most open in the competition, without a single team assured of even a spot in the Europa League. Currently sitting in 1st place in Group B, following their opening defeat to PSV with a victory over Wolfsburg and an away draw and home win against CSKA Moscow, United will be looking to change that, however, by nabbing a spot in the last 16 with a victory on Wednesday evening.

In the league United are unbeaten since they lost to Arsenal in the first game of October, most recently beating Watford 2-1 to send them into 2nd place. However, that position is arguably more down to defensive determination than forward flair, United being both the lowest scoring team in the top 7 and the tightest back-line in the entire league. The reason behind that discrepancy is the oft-discussed (and oft-criticised) selection of United’s frontline; Wayne Rooney (his 7 goals this season flattering the England striker) remains the most controversial aspect of United’s season, his automatic selection by Louis van Gaal consistently coming under fire. Rooney, at a Super Mega PGM of 30-36, missed United’s visit to Watford through injury, but may make an appearance, off the bench or otherwise, on Wednesday evening.



Yet United face tough competition in PSV, something they learnt the hard way back in mid-September. Since that opening victory over United, however, the Dutch champions haven’t exactly been at their best in Europe, with losses against CSKA Moscow and Wolfsburg followed by a home win against the latter. Yet in this topsy-turvy group that still leaves PSV in 2nd, and more than in the running for a place in the knockout rounds. The likelihood of their progression may be, in part, down to the continued good form of Luuk de Jong who, at a Super Mega PGM spread of 16-20, is the team’s top scorer with 16 goals in 18 games.

Given their solid form at the moment and the fact that the last 16 is in sight, our Spreadex traders think United will have likely learned their lesson from their opening fixture against the Dutch champions, offering a Manchester United/PSV Eindhoven Goal Supremacy spread of 1.2-1.4 alongside Total Goals spread of 2.75-2.95.

Turning to the travelling Manchester side, and City visit Juventus at 7.45pm BT Sport 2 with a place in the knockout rounds already guaranteed. However, keen to make it past the last 16 for the first time in their history, City will be looking to secure 1st place in Group D and therefore, ostensibly at least, slightly easier opposition in the next round. Victory on Wednesday evening would achieve this, with Manuel Pellegrini’s side following up their opening defeat to Juve with wins over Borussia Monchengladbach and Sevilla (both home and away).

Yet City, despite a frighteningly strong start to the season, have shown instances of worrying fallibility, including that home loss to the Italian champions. Most recently City suffered their third league defeat of 2015/16, an embarrassing 4-1 loss at the Etihad against Liverpool that saw them fall from 1st to 3rd. And with Mangala, Zabaleta and Kompany (as well as Nasri, Silva and Bony) all absent, the Manchester side may well remain shaky at the back when they travel to Turin. It falls, then, to City’s formidable front-line to make up for any defensive deficiencies; beyond, shockingly enough, Leicester City Pellegrini’s men are the 2nd top scorers in the Premier League with 27 goals. Despite injury Sergio Aguero, at a Super Mega PGM of 24-29, has the most with 9, whilst new boys Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, both a 10/1 to score first, have 6 goals apiece.



Whilst, as City know, Juventus can’t be underestimated, they nevertheless don’t quite appear to be the side they were last season. Juve may not have seen a Chelsea-style capitulation, but they still find themselves at 6th in the league, a big drop for a team that won the Serie A with 17 points to spare. They are, however, unbeaten in 3 league games, the most recent being a 1-0 victory over AC Milan and are, more importantly, loss-less in the Champions League. Yet wins over City and Sevilla were joined by a duo of draws against Monchengladbach, leaving the Italian champions to trail City by a point.

It will be interesting to see what kind of side the injury-hit City put out on Wednesday night, especially with progress already assured. Our Spreadex traders, at least, think the Manchester side might be a bit worse for wear, offering a narrow Juventus/Man City Goal Supremacy spread of 0.2-0.4 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.4-2.6.