Champions League
2012-10-03 - Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: European Champions League
Wednesday 3 October 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Manchester City
Joe Hart was disgusted at the end of the match day 1 as Manchester City blew a 1-2 lead at Real Madrid before losing 3-2 and that leaves them in a tough position early on in this 'group of death'. Hart was later criticised by Roberto Mancini for his comments in the post-match interview, but now the focus is on picking up their first 3 points in the Group.
City beat Fulham 1-2 at the weekend after trailing in that game and that result helped the team up to 4th in the Premier League table and they are now just 4 points behind Chelsea. City have actually failed to win any of their last 2 games at home in all competitions, although they are now unbeaten in 15 games here in all competitions.
The team were placed in a tough Group at this stage last season, but they did finish with 7 points from a possible 9 at home and City are now unbeaten in 17 home games in European competitions. City have won their last 4 home games in Europe since the 1-1 draw with Napoli at this stage of the Champions League last season.
Jack Rodwell is available for selection again, but both Micah Richards and Maicon are absent with injuries. Kolo Toure has not been registered in the Champions League squad.
Borussia Dortmund
It has been well discussed that Manchester City have been placed in a tough Group in the Champions League in back to back seasons, but Borussia Dortmund will also be disappointed in that respect. They had Arsenal, Marseille and Olympiacos in their Group last season, so their win over Ajax during the first round of matches is very important for their chances of qualifying.
Dortmund have won back to back League titles in Germany, but their start to this season has seen them drop off the searing early pace set by Bayern Munich. The side trail Bayern by 7 points although 11 points from a possible 18 isn't the worst return in the World. Dortmund crushed Borussia Moechengladbach 5-0 at home over the weekend to snap a 2 match run without a win, but they have failed to win any of their last 3 away from home.
The side lost all 3 away games in the Champions League last season and that saw them finish bottom of the Group and miss out on the Europa League as a back up. That also means Dortmund have lost 4 in a row away from home in the competition and 5 of their last 6, although last season was their first back in the Champions League since 2003. Dortmund have not won any of their last 5 away games in European competitions.
There are no new injury worries for Borussia Dortmund as they travel to Manchester.
Head to Head
This is the first meeting between these two sides in a competitive game.
Manchester City did beat Bayern Munich here 2-0 last season, but the Bavarian giants had already qualified for the last 16 in top spot by the time that fixture was played.
The last time Borussia Dortmund came to Manchester was in 1997 as the beat Manchester United 0-1 at Old Trafford in the Champions League Semi Final and then went on to win the competition.
Dortmund lost 2-1 at Arsenal last season.
Prediction
I am actually a little surprised to see Manchester City are on the drift in this game, but I do think they were initially a little too short considering the attacking options Borussia Dortmund have in the side.
In that sense, I do expect to see at least 3 goals scored in this game as City did concede in 2 of their 3 games in the Group Stage at home last season, while Dortmund conceded at least 2 goals in each of their away games.
Both sides have been better going forward than they have been at defending so far this season- City are yet to keep a clean sheet so far while Dortmund have conceded 3 goals in each of their last 2 away games and haven't kept a clean sheet in 3 away games in the Bundesliga coming into this one.
I had projected City to pick up 7 points again from their 3 home games in the Group and I think they will be too strong for Dortmund at home with the defensive problems the German side have. Both Olympiacos and Marseille managed 3 goals in their home games against Dortmund last season and they have conceded that many in each of their last 2 away games.
Therefore, the option being offered by Ladbrokes that City win and there are at least 3 goals scored in the match looks good value to me at 2.75 and that will be my pick for this game.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Manchester City 3-1 Borussia Dortmund
