Manchester City’s dominant 4-0 victory over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday was the perfect confidence boost ahead of their high-stakes Champions League showdown at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
However, lingering concerns remain City trail 3-2 after the first leg and have developed a troubling habit of conceding late goals.
Painful memories of their struggles against League One’s Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, the heavy 5-1 defeat to Arsenal, the 4-2 loss at Paris Saint-Germain, and the 2-2 draw at Brentford where they let in two late goals are still fresh.
New signing Omar Marmoush made an instant impact with a hat-trick against Newcastle, while fellow January arrival Nico Gonzalez controlled the midfield. Their performances give hope that City can pull off an upset against a Madrid side that recently lost top spot in La Liga after Barcelona’s win over Rayo Vallecano.
But history is not in City’s favor. They have only one win in six trips to the Bernabeu, and their European away form has been disastrous, suffering defeats to Sporting (4-1), Juventus (2-0), and PSG (4-2). Adding to their defensive concerns, only Ipswich and Salford have failed to score against them in their last ten matches.
Madrid, however, have defensive issues of their own, keeping just two clean sheets in their last 11 games. A high-scoring clash is likely, with over 4.5 goals at 15/8 (Paddy Power, Betfair).
Madrid to win with both teams scoring is also priced at 15/8 (Sky Bet), while another 3-2 Madrid victory is at 14/1 (bet365, Betfred, BoyleSports). Jude Bellingham is 23/10 (Unibet, BetMGM) to score for Madrid, while Phil Foden is 23/10 (SpreadEx) to find the net for City.
Juggling multiple competitions proved costly for Jurgen Klopp in his final season at Liverpool, and new boss Arne Slot could face a similar challenge.
The Reds have looked vulnerable in recent weeks, crashing out of the FA Cup at Plymouth and conceding a 98th-minute equalizer against Everton. Their shaky display against Wolves, where the visitors nearly grabbed a late equalizer, has also raised concerns.
A tricky trip to Aston Villa awaits, rescheduled due to Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final appearance. With mounting pressure on the league leaders, another draw could be on the cards.
The draw is priced at 3/1 (Coral, Betfred, Betway, bet365), while a 2-2 result is at 12/1 (bet365). Cody Gakpo remains sidelined, but Mohamed Salah is 29/20 to score for a seventh consecutive game, while Morgan Rogers is 4/1 (Sky Bet) to net his fifth goal in as many matches.
At Kenilworth Road, Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle are desperate for a crucial win to aid their Championship survival fight.
Luton have picked up just two points from their last 30, while Plymouth’s recent form includes wins over West Brom, Liverpool, and Millwall, plus a draw at Sunderland. Despite not securing an away league win this season, Plymouth’s 4/1 odds (Paddy Power, Betfred, Betfair) could offer great value for bettors.