City to overcome Real challenge tonight

Jonno Turner turns his attentions to the Champions League - and specifically, Group D - as the group stages come to a close.

We're off to Amsterdam for our first pick of the day - as Group D leaders Borussia Dortmund look to book their place in the next round of the competition, with another positive result against Ajax.

 

The Germans need just a point to secure passage to the next round of the competition - and eight games without a loss away from Signal Iduna Park suggests that die Schwarzgelben are more than capable of nicking something in this encounter.

 

The Bundesliga champions have smashed 13 goals in their last five on the road, and their attacking triumverate of Lewandowski, Gotze and Reus will be desperate to maintain that rich vein of form in the Netherlands this evening.

 

Jurgen Klopp's side have not yet lost in this group, which is a fantastic achievement considering that it is widely regarded as the 'group of death' at this stage of the competition, and impressive draws at Manchester City and Real Madrid will have boosted confidence in the German camp ahead of this tie.

 

But the North-Rhine Westphalia side will not want to rest on their laurels, and a win would see them go through to the next round as group leaders - a huge scalp for Klopp's charges.

 

Ajax go into this tie having won just two of their last five outings at the Amsterdam Arena - and Frank De Boer will be keen for his side to correct that slide here.

 

A win for the hosts could put them right back into qualification contention, but they will be desperately hoping that Real Madrid are unable to beat Manchester City in order to keep their dreams alive.

 

Ten goals conceded in their last five on their own patch suggests that the home side do have issues defensively which need attention, and that could cost them dearly as they welcome free-scoring Dortmund to the capital tonight.

 

The last time these two sides met, Borussia Dortmund ran out 1-0 winners in a tight encounter - and I think that the visitors will have too much for de Godenzonen once again.

 

Bet 1: Borussia Dortmund (AWAY) @ 1.87

 

 

Staying in Group D now, and turning our attentions to what is probably the biggest game of the evening - as Manchester City host Real Madrid at Eastlands, aiming to keep their narrow hopes of qualification alive.

 

The Sky Blues have endured a nightmare start to this group stage, and currently sit bottom of the mini-league with just two points - well below expectations.

 

That will have ramped up the pressure on boss Roberto Mancini, and he will be desperate for his side to weigh in with a positive performance here in order to vindicate his big spending in the transfer market.

 

City have been excellent domestically of late, and go into this one high in confidence following a 5-0 drubbing of Aston Villa at the weekend, which makes a dozen consecutive games unbeaten on their own patch since April.

 

And 13 goals smashed in their last five in front of their own fans suggests that the hosts certainly have the ability to punish this Real side in their locker.

 

The visitors travel to England having lost two of their last three away games in this competition - and boss Jose Mourinho will be keen for his side to arrest that slump in order to secure qualification here.

 

Three points in this tie would see Real book their place in the next round of the cup, but the Whites have kept just one clean sheet in their last five Champions League outings away from the Bernabeu, and that could cost them dearly in this one.

 

Real struggled to a narrow 2-1 victory in their last game on the road against Levante, and they will need to up their performance levels if they are to subdue a wounded City side in Manchester.

 

With both sides desperate for the win, this promises to be an excellent encounter - but taking their home record into consideration, I think that the hosts are overpriced at 3.3 for the victory.

 

Mancini may feel that a win in a game of this magnitude would release some of their pressure building around him - even if his side don't ultimately qualify.

 

Bet 2: Manchester City (HOME) @ 3.3

 

Bet HERE !

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