Champions League preview: Red Star Belgrade vs Man City, Newcastle vs AC Milan
Red Star Belgrade vs Man City
Red Star are playing purely for their self-respect here. The Serbian side have earned a solitary point in this campaign, nabbing a draw against Young Boys back in October.
Man City, meanwhile, have already won the group, winning all five of their games to date. Pep Guardiola can afford to rotate his side, but there’s still more than enough talent in his squad to give this opposition a tough night, whoever plays.
The Citizens are definitely without the injured Erling Haaland – though you suspect he’d be rested even if he were fit.
And City have not been at their most efficient in the last month, their only win in their last five league games coming this weekend against Luton. The Manchester side even went 2-0 down at home to Leipzig in their last Champions League game – before coming back to win 3-2.
Barak Bakhar’s side has at least scored in four of their five CL games in this campaign, even taking the lead against City in the reverse fixture. So it seems reasonable to conclude that Belgrade can at least find the net against City on Wednesday. Expecting more than that from the hosts may be too optimistic.
BTTS YES is a 5/6 shot.
Newcastle vs AC Milan
Even if Newcastle take care of business against Milan, the Magpies’ chances of progressing to the round of 16 is up in the air.
Borussia Dortmund have already made certain they will progress to the next round; Paris Saint-Germain can join them, if the Ligue 1 side win their away match against Dortmund on Wednesday.
Otherwise, Newcastle or Milan can advance at PSG’s expense. So can the Mags take advantage?
Eddie Howe’s side won impressively against Paris Saint-Germain – but five games in, that’s their only group victory.
And more generally, Newcastle aren’t in the best of form, having slumped to defeat in their last two league games. They’re better at St James Park – but they still got turned over on home turf by Borussia Dortmund back in October.
Whatever the result, this match seems unlikely to offer a last gasp avalanche of goals. Milan have scored just three goals in their last seven Champions League matches. And aside from Newcastle’s barnstorming 4-1 win over PSG, the Mags have scored just one other Champions League goal this season.
Maybe playing at home will inspire Newcastle to another memorable performance – but the side looked notably tired against Tottenham last time out in the Prem. Backing under 2.5 goals at evens could be the way to go.
If a player is to prove decisive for Newcastle, it could be Anthony Gordon. The former Everton man has scored in four of his last five appearances at St James’ Park, and is 16/5 to find the net against Milan.
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