UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid vs Manchester City - Betting Tips, Odds & Prediction

Real Madrid welcome Manchester City to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday morning New Zealand time, and honestly, I can’t wait for this one.

These two clubs have faced each other every season for the past four years. The games always deliver, and this season should be no exception. Los Blancos sit fifth in the league phase with 12 points, while City are ninth with 10. Both badly need a win to keep their knockout hopes on track.

I’ve pulled together team news, stats, predicted lineups and a betting tip below, along with the latest odds from NZ betting sites for those looking to have a punt.

Real Madrid

Two wins from seven tells you everything about Real Madrid right now. Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo was ugly, finishing with nine men after two red cards. Manager Xabi Alonso looks under serious pressure, and I reckon City will be counting their lucky stars that they get to visit Real right now.

The club’s defensive numbers are concerning: Real have shipped two or more goals in three of their last five matches, with Celta, Olympiacos and Elche all finding the net twice. These aren’t sides that should be troubling a team of this calibre.

Real Madrid’s backline is in tatters too. Militao is out for four months with a hamstring tear, Carvajal is recovering from knee surgery, and Mendy hasn’t played since September. That leaves Rudiger partnering 21-year-old Raul Asencio. I rate the kid, but Haaland will fancy that matchup all day long.

There is one positive though. Mbappe scored four against Olympiacos last time out and now has nine in the competition to date. When he turns up, Real can beat anyone.

Team News: Militao, Carvajal and Mendy out. Alaba doubtful.

Predicted Lineup: Courtois; Asencio, Rudiger, Alaba, Carreras; Tchouameni, Camavinga; Valverde, Guler, Vinicius Junior; Mbappe.

Manchester City

A month ago, City were a mess. Oh, how the tides have turned though - now they’ve won three on the spin, scored nine and conceded none.

Their most recent win over Sunderland was their best performance of the season. Cherki looked sharp, Haaland kept scoring, and Guardiola had his trademark grin back.

All this to say, things are moving along nicely for City. They’ve hit three or more goals in eight of their last nine games and are now creating chances with ease, in stark contrast to November’s slump.

Team News: Rodri still out. Stones missed the weekend. Kovacic not back until February.

Predicted Lineup: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Silva, Gundogan, Foden; Savinho, Haaland, Cherki.

• Both teams have scored in nine of the last 10 meetings between these sides.
• Haaland has nine Champions League goals against Spanish clubs, including four braces.
• Real have conceded two or more in three of their last five across all competitions.
• Neither team has kept a clean sheet in their last four meetings.

For me, Haaland against Asencio decides this.

The Norwegian has nine Champions League goals against Spanish sides, four of them braces. He bullies defenders for a living, and Asencio hasn’t faced anything like him. The way betting apps are pricing City, I see value.

Asencio has been decent this season and clearly has a future, but I can’t get past the feeling that he’ll be getting a lesson on Wednesday. Without Militao’s pace alongside Rudiger, City will target that channel all night.

Vinicius against Walker interests me too. Walker has lost half a yard, and Vinicius can punish that on the counter.

I’m backing City. Real’s defence is a shambles, and Guardiola’s side are clicking at just the right time. For those hunting football betting tips, the visitors at $3.00 looks generous.

Erling Haaland Anytime Scorer & Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.10

Haaland scores and goals fly in. That’s my read.

Nine Champions League goals against Spanish opposition, four braces against La Liga clubs alone. Asencio won’t have faced a striker like this, and City will feed Haaland early and often.

These two don’t do clean sheets. Nine of the last 10 meetings have seen both teams score, Real have been leaky for weeks, and City have been ruthless. Everything points to goals.

Haaland to score in a game with three or more? At $2.10 at Sportaza, I’m all over it.