Man City vs AEK Athens Prediction: Betting Tips & Odds

Manchester City and AEK Athens meet for the first time in competitive football when the Champions League comes to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday morning NZT.

There’s a $2.50 bet I like in this Man City vs AEK Athens preview, and it relies on the Greek side doing their bit.

My call on Erling Haaland scoring twice against Ipswich on 17 October came in. He limped down the tunnel at full-time, though, and that’s why I’ve steered clear of his markets here.

Man City

Rotation is coming, and I think it’ll be heavy.

City are at Aston Villa on Saturday, and Haaland was already being talked about for a rest here before his late knock. Phil Foden’s goal against Ipswich was his first in the Premier League in 23 appearances, and a home game against AEK is a decent chance for him to go again. Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson both started on the bench against Ipswich, so I’d expect them back in midfield.

I’m less sure about their defending. PSG were 3-0 up by the 35th minute on 14 October, and Ipswich needed less than three minutes to cancel out Foden’s opener three days later. Gianluigi Donnarumma’s late save from a Ferran Torres penalty stopped the PSG game getting uglier.

Anyone after football tips on the handicap markets should factor that in. The last two scorelines at the Etihad were 2-4 and 3-2, and City spent 12 minutes of stoppage time against Ipswich clinging on.

Team News: Semenyo and O’Reilly are doubts. Kovacic and Nunes came off against Ipswich but both say they’re fine.

Predicted Lineup: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Fernandez, Anderson; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.

AEK Athens

AEK are the Greek champions, and they’re unbeaten through six Super League games this season with 16 goals scored and three conceded.

I rate Lovro Majer more than anyone else in this side. He opened the scoring at Shakhtar from a Stavros Pilios pass, and he’s the one most likely to pick out a runner when AEK break.

I expect a compact 4-4-2 for long spells, with Razvan Marin and Majer trying to get them up the pitch quickly once they win the ball.

That 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge, where Shakhtar played the game, was harsh on them. FotMob had the xG at 1.37 to 1.35, and two of Shakhtar’s goals were a cross that deflected in off Alberto Brignoli and a late screamer from Gleiker Mendoza.

Their weekend trip to Atromitos was postponed, which gives them six days’ rest to City’s three.

Team News: Strakosha is out. Everyone else is available.

Predicted Lineup: Brignoli; Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pilios; Koita, Marin, Vitalis, Majer; Jovic, Zini.

• City have won all seven of their Premier League games.
• City have scored in nine of their 10 games this season.
• AEK have kept three clean sheets in six Super League games.
• Haaland has 12 goals in all competitions this season.

AEK are going to have a go at this.

They had more shots than Shakhtar last week, 13 to 12, and Sky Sports had them down for four big chances missed. Against this City defence, I’d be surprised if they didn’t find the net at least once.

City should still win, rotated side or not. I’m going 2-1, but I wouldn’t be shocked if a late goal or two stretched it, because AEK will have to push forward once they go a goal down.

Haaland’s minutes are the big unknown. With Villa away four days later, I’d be surprised to see him play the full 90, and City look a lot less ruthless without him.

Over 2.5 goals at $1.36 is too short to bother with. If you’re browsing betting promotions for Champions League week, a boosted price on City and BTTS is the sort of offer I’d look for.

Man City to Win & Both Teams to Score @ $2.50

City at $1.08 add very little to the price, so this is mostly a bet on AEK scoring, and I’d rather put a stake on that at most New Zealand betting sites than on the result alone.

AEK have scored in all eight of their Super League and Champions League games this season. Majer and Pilios combined down the left for their goal in London, and both should start here. Both teams have also scored in City’s last two home games.

City have conceded six goals across their last three matches.