Wednesday night’s Champions League action sees Manchester City hosting Sparta Prague at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola’s side will be eager to get three points on the board here and ensure that they stay in the automatic qualification places.
When the markets are so lopsided towards home favourites, it can be a pickle to find some value, but PP football tipster Paddy Murphy is on hand and has found four picks with value very much on his mind.
Man City v Sparta Prague betting tips
Man City to win & both teams to score, yes
Barnardo Silva to have 1+ shots on target
Man City to score 1+ goals, Man City 5+ corners, Sparta Prague 2+ cards
Each team to have 1+ corners in each half & each time to have 1+ shots on target in each half
WHEN: Wednesday, 23rd of October, 8:00pm
WHERE: The Etihad Stadium, Manchester
TV: TNT Sports
Man City to win & both teams to score, yes
Man City aren’t doing nearly as badly as many thought they’d do without the services of their midfield maestro Rodri. Since the Spaniard suffered a season-ending injury in their 2-2 home draw with Arsenal in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s side have played five games in all competitions, winning four and drawing one, scoring 12 goals while conceding five.
City aren’t their usual juggernaut-y self yet. That usually kicks in around February, and this has been none more evident than in defence. Of their 12 games in all competitions so far, the Cityzens have only kept three clean sheets, and of their six home games this campaign, they’ve only kept their opponents scoreless on one occasion.
If Brentford, Watford, Fulham, and Ipswich can all score at the Etihad, Sparta Prague should be able to rattle the net, particularly as they have done so in six of their last seven away games in the Champions League. There’s a whole heap of value in the odds here.
Barnardo Silva to have 1+ shots on target
The general consensus seems to be that we’re going to see a midfield of Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Matheus Nunes, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish. Silva has been in sprightly form in the Premier League this season, assisting three times so far, averaging 1.9 shots per game, while in the Champions League has averaged 1.0 shots per game.
Of the five players set to play, he has the highest averages here—apart from Phil Foden. However, the odds on Foden aren’t quite as generous as on his Portuguese teammate, so we’re sticking with Silva.
Man City to score 1+ goals, Man City 5+ corners, Sparta Prague 2+ cards
We’ve also spotted some decent value in the #WhatOddsPaddy markets, and this one looks like a decent shout.
Will City score at least once? You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that wouldn’t take that leg of the pick.
Will City get at least five corners? They’ve cleared that line in five of their six home games this season, and with them very likely laying siege on Sparta here, they should certainly do so again.
And will Sparta Prague pick up two bookings? Of their four away Champions League games this season, they’ve picked up at least two on two occasions, and they’ve also picked up at least two cards in three of their last five on the road.
City’s last five home Champions League games have also seen the away time picking up at least two bookings on three occasions, so history is on our side here.
Each team to have 1+ corners in each half & each time to have 1+ shots on target in each half
We’re going a little bit longer in the odds here but it’s based on the aforementioned defensive frailties we’ve seen from Man City this season. City are most definitely vulnerable this season, keeping just one clean sheet at home is proof of that.
Guardiola’s side have also conceded at least two corners in all but two of their home games this campaign. From all six of their home games this term, the only team that didn’t register at least two shots on target was Watford in a League Cup game.
Yes, Sparta will be pinned back for most of the game here but they’ve already scored nine away goals in the competitions, thanks to be involved in the qualifiers and they scored in all of their away European games last season so have plenty of experience and a corner and a shot on target per half are certainly achievable.
Man City v Sparta Prague betting tips
Man City to win & both teams to score, yes
Barnardo Silva to have 1+ shots on target
Man City to score 1+ goals, Man City 5+ corners, Sparta Prague 2+ cards
Each team to have 1+ corners in each half & each time to have 1+ shots on target in each half
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
READ MORE
- Shoot on over to Paddy Power News for the best Football Betting Tips & News
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