Manchester City will be determined to put league defeat to Chelsea behind them when they welcome Hoffenheim to the Etihad Stadium for Wednesday’s Champions League clash.
The Citizens are already sure of a place in the last 16, but need to avoid defeat in this final game to secure top spot.
Latest Odds
Having run out 2-1 winners in the reverse meeting in Germany, they are 1/5 (1.20) favourites with to return to winning ways with a victory here.
Julian Nagelsmann’s men are already out of the competition but can clinch a Europa League spot should they win and Shakhtar Donetsk lose at home to Lyon, and are available at 14/1 (15.00) to pull off a shock in this one.
Both of the guests’ away matches in the group so far have resulted in draws, and there are odds of 7/1 (8.00) on offer on them claiming a share of the spoils once again.
Team News
Sergio Aguero remains a doubt after missing out on the last two games, while Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva are both doubts and Benjamin Mendy, Claudio Bravo and Eliaquim Mangala still on the sidelines.
Adam Szalai and Kerem Demirbay are both suspended, with Kevin Vogt, Lukas Rupp, Havard Nordtveit and Nadiem Amiri all ruled out through injury.
Goals at both ends
It is not difficult to pinpoint the reasons for Die Kraichgauer’s elimination from this tournament, and it is certainly not down to their attacking play.
The German tournament debutants have scored 10 goals in their five group games so far, a figure exceeded by only seven of the 31 other teams in the competition.
Indeed, they took the lead in the 2-1 defeat at home to Pep Guardiola’s team, and will be confident of causing more problems for a backline that has kept just once clean sheet in five fixtures.
Predictions
All in all, odds of 5/4 (2.25) look like strong value on City coming out on top despite conceding against an enterprising Hoffenheim team that has found the net in all seven previous Champions League matches.
Manchester City to win and both teams to score for a 1.5pt stake at 5/4 (2.25) with
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