Football
Juventus vs Manchester City Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Juventus and Manchester City will face off at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on 11 December. Both teams are tussling for favourable seeding ahead of the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. Juve are one of the tournament’s most historic clubs. Manchester City are among the new emerging giants of Europe. However, Pep Guardiola’s men are having a tricky season. Both teams are fighting for the league title in their respective countries. Furthermore, they are in similar positions in the Champions League. These factors make it an enticing opportunity for football betting enthusiasts. We bring you the latest odds and our tips and predictions.
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Manuel Akanji celebrates with Erling Haaland//Getty Images
PRE-GAME ODDS AND WIN PROBABILITY: CITY FAVOURED TO WIN
Home: 59/20 (3.95) – 25.3%
Draw: 13/5 (3.60) – 27.8%
Away: 93/100 (1.93) – 51.8%
*Odds courtesy of Betway, subject to change.
JUVENTUS HAVE THE HEAD-TO-HEAD UPPER HAND
Although the odds favour a Manchester City win in this match, Juventus have historically fared well against them.
In four previous European encounters, there have been two 1-1 draws during the 2010-11 UEFA Europa League, while Juventus beat City 2-1 away and then 1-0 at home in the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League.
Juventus have never played a competitive match against a Manchester City team managed by Pep Guardiola.
Josep Guardiola//Getty Images
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Previous meetings (UEFA Champions League):
25/11/15: Juventus 1-0 Manchester City
15/09/15: Manchester City 1-2 Juventus
JUVENTUS: CURRENT FORM – WWLDD
Juventus began their UEFA Champions League campaign with back-to-back wins. Thiago Motta’s men beat Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven 3-1 at home and then Germany’s RB Leipzig 3-2 away.
However, they lost 1-0 at home to VfB Stuttgart as El Bilal Touré scored a late winner after Danilo was sent off. Since then, Juve have stuttered to away draws at LOSC Lille (1-1) and Aston Villa (0-0).
Juventus are currently on pace for the knockout phase playoffs although they are two points off a top eight spot and automatic qualification for the round of 16. If Juve finish ninth to 16th, they will advance to the knockout round play-offs as a seeded side. Any lower on the table and they will be unseeded. Currently, they are 19th and will be looking to improve their standing.
After hosting City, Juventus will travel to Brugge before hosting Benfica in their final UEFA Champions League league phase match.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Dušan Vlahović: The Serbian striker is Juve’s top scorer for the season in Serie A with six goals. Juve are currently sixth in Italy’s topflight but only four points behind Napoli. Vlahović’s contribution has been vital in keeping them within reach of top spot.
- Michele Di Gregorio: Juve have the best defensive record in Serie A with only seven goals conceded in 13 games. Credit must go to goalkeeper Di Gregorio, who has been in hot form. Di Gregorio is on loan from Monza with an obligation to buy at the end of the season.
- Francisco Conceição: Conceição has made a valuable contribution to Juve’s season on the wing. Like Di Gregorio, he is on loan at Juve. The 21-year-old has livened up the team since arriving from Porto and has a bright future ahead.
JUVENTUS TEAM NEWS
Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal have been hit by season-ending injuries. Juve have felt the absence of Bremer in particularly as the defence has not been as solid since his anterior cruciate ligament injury picked up against RB Leipzig.
Vlahović, Arkadiusz Milik, Nico Gonzalez, Douglas Luiz, Vasilije Adžić, and Weston McKennie were missing against Aston Villa due to niggling injuries. It remains to be seen how well they all recover and return to action. However, currently, it appears that apart from Bremer and Cabal, Milik is the only one who is unlikely to be at full fitness by the time the City game comes.
In particular, it is vital that Vlahović’s injury does not appear particularly serious.
MANCHESTER CITY: CURRENT FORM – DWWLD
Five games into the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, City are 17th – ahead of Juventus only on goal difference.
Pep Guardiola’s men began their campaign well with a 0-0 draw to Inter followed by convincing wins over Slovan Bratislava (4-0) and Sparta Praha (5-0).
However, they subsequently suffered an embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP. At the time, Sporting were coached by Ruben Amorim, who has now taken over at City’s fierce Premier League rivals, Manchester United.
Most recently, City drew 3-3 to Feyenoord after leading 3-0. The game ended a losing run of five matches in all competitions but extended their winless streak to six matches.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Erling Haaland: Even with City in poor form, Haaland continues to remind the world what a clinical goal poacher he is. He tops the Premier League scoring charts with 12 to his name. In the draw with Feyenoord, he scored twice for the Citizens.
- Rico Lewis: An ageing City side is crying out for a new generation of stars to take over. Lewis is one player who looks capable of stepping up. He can contribute to the team on either side as a fullback or at the base of the midfield.
- Matheus Nunes: Another rare bright spark during City’s current slump, Nunes has been a key creative influence for the Citizens from midfield. He has three assists already in the UEFA Champions League.
MANCHESTER CITY TEAM NEWS
The long-term layoff of Rodri with an ACL injury has had a significantly negative impact on City. Comfortable in possession and clever off the ball, he is the perfect Pep Guardiola midfielder and City have been at sixes and sevens without him.
City will hope to have Jeremy Doku back in time for this fixture but have had injury woes galore, much like their hosts.
Oscar Bobb is expected to miss the trip to Turin, as is Mateo Kovačić. John Stones has had injury issues lately, but his return date is unknown.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Cambiasso, Gatti, Kalulu, Cabal; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceição, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahović
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Aké, Gvardiol; Nunes, Gündogan; Grealish, Foden, Doku; Haaland
SUGGESTED BETS
If you’re looking to place your bets on this UEFA Champions League game, here are our suggested bets.
Both Teams to Score (Yes): Both teams are likely to hit the back of the net in this fixture. City have been leaky at the back of late. Juventus were solid at the beginning of the season but have struggled defensively too since the injury to Bremer. (4/5 with Betway)
Over 2.5 Goals: The draw with Feyenoord was the sixth City game in a row to produce this outcome. (9/10 with Betway)
Erling Haaland Anytime Goalscorer: Haaland is scoring roughly a goal per game this season. Even with City in inconsistent form, he shows no sign of stopping. (15/10 Forecast)
VALUE BETS
Dušan Vlahović Anytime Goalscorer: If goals are to come from Juventus in this fixture, Vlahović is the leading candidate to put the ball in the back of the net. (31/20 Forecast)
Over 3.5 Goals: For bettors who are willing to take the risk, there is a high potential reward for backing this fixture to produce four or more goals. (11/5 with Betway)
Draw & Over 2.5 Goals: With both teams in inconsistent form, a draw is a reasonable prediction. This fixture is likely to produce plenty of goals. (12/1 with Betway)
Prediction – Draw & Both Teams to Score
The top bookmakers’ odds favour a City win at the moment. However, the visitors have been unreliable lately. Both they and Juventus are in similar predicaments in terms of injuries, particularly to key defensive players.
The gap in quality between the teams has lessened since last season and is offset by Juve’s home advantage. A draw is a reasonable bet and BTTS covers several outcomes, including 1-1 and 2-2.
Leonard Solms is a freelance journalist who has been covering local and international sport from South Africa since 2015. Best known for his work for ESPN, he has also written for Al Jazeera, The Continent, New Frame, Planet Rugby and GiveMeSport among several other publications.