Manchester City v Roma: Champions League
Manchester City v Roma Group E action from the Etihad with goalkeeper Joe Hart likely to return to the side for Champions League clash.
Manuel Pellegrini left the England international on the bench for Saturday’s 4-2 victory at Hull City.
Asked if Hart, 27, would return to face Roma, Pellegrini said: “Yes, he’s in a very good moment.”
Striker Stevan Jovetic is back after a hamstring injury but midfielders Fernando and Samir Nasri are absent.
Trends point to Man City being kept waiting for their first Champions League victory…
Match stats….
- City have won just one of their last seven European meetings with Italian sides
- Sergio Aguero has scored five goals in his last five Champions League appearances at the Etihad Stadium
- Roma have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last nine Champions League matches
City’s narrow 0-1 loss away to Bayern has set the tone for a struggle more akin to their first two unsuccessful attempts at Champions League level.
The Premier League champions are on a three match losing run in the competition, whereas the Italians beat CSKA Moscow 5-1 in their opener and have won all six of their domestic fixtures to date this season.
The Giallorossi’s attacking quality suggests they will score…….Man City have conceded in seven of their eight clashes with top-flight opposition in 2014/15. However, Roma are uncertain defensively, so it looks a banker for a BTTS – YES
Premier League or Champions League, Aguero averages a goal every two games…….and has four in four so far this season, so is good value for a goal in this?
Match Betting….
Man City 1.68, Roma 5.6, The Draw 4.6
Suggested bets….
Back both teams to score @ 1.75
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