Champions League: A Day out in Manchester is All Sporting Can Expect

Manchester City vs Sporting Lisbon

Sporting Lisbon will arrive at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night with the improbable task of overturning a five-goal deficit when they meet Manchester City for a Champions League Round of 16second leg. 

After being totally outplayed by the Sky Blues in the first leg, Sporting’s primary aim must be to restore some pride on the European stage but that will be easier said than done.

While the Lisbon giants come into the match on the back of a 2-0 league win over Arouca, their hosts had a resounding victory in the Manchester derby. The Portugal fans will be travelling in their numbers and can only hope for a good day out…at least the weather forecast looks like they’ll avoid the customary Manchester rain.

But there may be little their team can do to stop another Sky Blue avalanche.

Talking Points

De Bruyne and Mahrez can be unplayable

The Sky Blues destroyed Manchester United in the Sunday derby, winning 4-1 with such ease as Kevin de Bruyne dictated the game in the first half, scoring a double and causing terror in the United defence every time he picked up the ball. He then teed up City’s third before being substituted on 80 minutes, and that may well mean he was being rested in anticipation of another run-out on Wednesday.

The third City goal was a thing of pure beauty as De Bruyne floated a corner right onto the foot of Riyad Mahrez, who was some 20 yards from goal as the hit the sweetest half volley into the bottom left corner. The Algerian wizard scored his second and City’s fourth when he beat the offside trap in injury time. He is the top scorer for the Sky Blues in the Champions League, already with six goals to his name.     

Wing-back Joao Cancelo, with three assists, is a constant threat, while 2021 recruit Jack Grealish looked at his sprightly best against the Red Devils.

This City team is dripping with world-class talent and the latest Champions League 2022 betting odds rate the Sky Blues as favourites to win the 2022 trophy. While their biggest rivals, Liverpool, are unlikely to surrender a two-goal lead over Inter Milan, City fans will hope that Red Bull Salzburg can beat FC Bayern, after playing out a 1-1 draw in Austria. The Bavarians are third favourites at SBOTOPodds of 5.50 and are most at risk of the three front-runners. 

Sporting farewell

Okay this game is 11 vs 11, but realistically, this is the last opportunity Lisbon have of contributing to the Champions League 2022 highlightsin this campaign. The chances of them keeping a clean sheet against the rampant Sky Blues is slim, so you’d have to say they need to score six or seven!

Currently sitting second in the Portuguese Primera Division table, Sporting are six points behind leaders FC Porto but have a Champions League 2022/23 place all but guaranteed with a 15-point cushion over fourth place.

Head coach Ruben Amorin has a galactico of his own in the side in the shape of midfield ace Pablo Sarabia. The 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star is on loan in Lisbon and has scored seven goals in 19 appearances, and he forms a good working partnership with fellow midfielder Pedro Goncalves, who is the top scorer for Sporting in the Champions League with four goals.

Portugal striker Paulinho has three goals in the Champions League and nine goals and four assists in the league, and he is sure to lead the line.  

History

These two teams have met on four previous occasions but, of course, the last meeting, three weeks ago, resulted in a thumping 5-0 win for Pep Guardiola’s team as Portugal star Bernardo Silva with two goals, Mahrez, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling gave City an unassailable lead. 

Lisbon are unbeaten in five away games but the Sky Blues are in better form, winning five of the last six games while their visitors have won two.   

Betting Tip

At a price of 1.13 to win the hosts are hot favourites, while Sporting can take pride in a draw at 8.20 or even a win at 12.52.

Most teams would fear a trip to the Etihad when City are in this kind of form, but this is a free hit for the Portuguese side with little to lose. That said, the Sky Blue defence will be keen to keep a clean sheet and every one of the hosts have that ruthless streak in them.

I think the visitors will emerge with some pride but Manchester City will ease through, possibly with the identical scoreline to their recent 2-0 FA Cup win over Peterborough United.

 

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