Champions League preview: Man City vs FC Copenhagen, Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig
Man City vs FC Copenhagen
City’s relentlessness has seen them win their every game so far in this campaign. They beat Copenhagen 3-1 in the reverse fixture a few weeks ago; even if Pep Guardiola rests some key players here, the home win seems assured.
The Danish team lost 2-0 to Midtjylland at the weekend. It doesn’t exactly encourage belief in the possibility of a heroic turnaround at the Etihad on Wednesday. With the job basically done, City could conceivably take it easy, the game ending without much in the way of incident. But equally, this richly talented squad could still smash a few more goals past the opposition, if Copenhagen aren’t on their mettle.
When these sides met last season, City beat Copenhagen 5-0 on home turf, before playing out a goalless draw in the return fixture. Chances are City will at least trouble the net on this occasion, even if they don’t go for broke.
In fact, City have scored exactly three goals in every one of their CL games this season. It’s as if Pep Guardiola has instilled some base level score that his side are required to reach – hit that milestone in a game, and then they can relax. With that in mind, you could take City to win 3-0 at 23/4, and 3-1 at 19/2.
If that feels a little too specific, it could be worth taking a shot on Phil Foden to continue his good run, assuming the 23-year-old starts of course. As well as scoring in the first leg, Foden has also netted three times in his last two league outings. Foden is 8/5 to score on Wednesday.
Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig
Real Madrid won the reverse fixture with the only goal of the match. Brahim Diaz’s fine strike proving the difference in an unspectacular game that was missing the injured Jude Bellingham.
The Englishman is back for this one, having returned against Valencia in La Liga this weekend – where he was sent off in the aftermath of the final whistle.
Bellingham had scored what he thought was the last gasp winner – only to learn the referee had blown for full time seconds earlier. With the game ending 2-2, the 20-year-old reacted intemperately, telling the ref “It’s a fucking goal!” – and receiving a red card for his trouble.
Presumably Wednesday’s game at the Bernabeu will prove less controversial. But RB Leipzig were a little unfortunate not to come out of the first leg with a goal. So can the Bundesliga side make a game of it in Spain?
It’s not out of the question, with Leipzig already showing they have the spirit to take on serious opposition. The side went 2-0 up against Man City at the Etihad in a group stage game earlier this season – only for the reigning champions to fight back to win 3-2.
Marco Rose’s side might be capable of at least turning this into a contest, then. Lois Openda has seven goals in his last nine Bundesliga games, and looks Leipzig’s greatest hope of scoring on Wednesday. Openda is 47/20 to score.
And after his frustration this weekend, perhaps backing Jude Bellingham to star on the big stage could work out, too. Bellingham has four goals so far for Real in this CL campaign, and scored twice in his last home game in La Liga. Bellingham is 27/20 to find the net on Wednesday.
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