The Champions League group stage draw was variety to holders Manchester City, and so they start their marketing campaign with what seems a house banker in opposition to 1991 European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade.
Some bookmakers value the Serbian workforce at 33-1 and even greater, longer odds than just about each Premier League opponent can be at the Etihad (with the doable exception of Luton Town). That offers you some concept of the activity dealing with Red Star tonight, with City to face RB Leipzig and Young Boys later in the group.
Pep Guardiola’s potential to rotate is hampered by some harm issues, with John Stones, Jack Grealish and Mateo Kovacic nonetheless unavailable. Grealish’s absence must imply one other begin for Jeremy Doku, who capped a formidable efficiency at West Ham with a aim. The Belgian winger may show to be a sneaky-good buy, for a City squad who’ve lacked flyers on the exterior since the departures of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and this yr Riyad Mahrez. Guardiola, on the touchline once more after present process a again operation in Barcelona, may select to present back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega a begin rather than Ederson. City face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday.
What can we find out about Red Star, aside from the truth Billy Bragg’s uncle as soon as performed for them? Well, it’s their first look in the group levels since 2019-20, after they discovered themselves in a gaggle with Bayern Munich and Tottenham. Spurs beat them 9-0 throughout the two video games. The season earlier than, Red Star discovered themselves in a gaggle with PSG, Liverpool and Napoli and unsurprisingly completed backside, however did beat Jurgen Klopp’s workforce 2-0 in Belgrade. Experienced defender Aleksandar Dragovic will probably be one in every of the acquainted names for watchers of European competitors, having performed for Bayer Leverkusen, Dynamo Kyiv and Basel, and spent a season at Leicester City. Manager Barak Bakhar is in his first season having come from Maccabi Haifa.
Full workforce information on the manner shortly.
