During this week, the first four second legs of the last sixteen round of the 2021/2022 Champions League will be played. Here, on Wednesday at 21:00, among others, there will be the match Manchester City vs. Sporting Lisbon. Thus, the leaders in the English Premier League and the second-placed team in the Portuguese Primeira Liga will play against each other. Turkish Halil Umut Meler will be in charge of the match at the Etihad Stadium.
The first leg between Manchester City and Sporting Lisbon on 15 February ended in a 5-0 away win. Thus, Pep Guardiola’s team already sealed the advancement to the quarter-finals. Moreover, the Citizens didn’t concede a goal in four of their six Premier League appearances between mid-January and the end of February. This was achieved, among others, in a 1-0 home win against third-placed Chelsea. A few days after the 5-0 in Portugal, Citizens suffered a 2-3 home defeat to seventh-placed Tottenham Hotspur. So far, that was followed by a 1-0 at Everton and a 4-1 at home to fifth-placed city rivals Manchester United on Sunday.
The Portuguese Primeira Liga naturally ranks below the English Premier League. Therefore, Sporting Lisbon’s results should not be used as a yardstick. For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that Rúben Amorim’s team is unbeaten in six league games. Here, the 0-5 against Manchester City fell between a 2-2 at leaders Porto and a 3-0 home win against eighth-placed Estoril Praia. Thereafter, there were so far a 1-1 at seventh-placed Marítimo Funchal and, on Saturday, a 2-0 against fourth-last-placed Arouca.
Placing mobile bets is particularly practical. Nevertheless, you should take a look at our sports betting app test beforehand.
What speaks for Manchester City?
- The 5-0 away victory in the first leg
- Won all three home games in the 2021/2022 Champions League so far
- Didn’t concede a goal in four of their six Premier League games between mid-January and late February
What speaks for Sporting Lisbon?
- Unlike their opponents, they played their last league game on Saturday
- All the more after the first leg, they have nothing to lose and can only surprise
- After the 5-0 in Portugal, the Citizens will probably put less pressure on the pedal
Our betting tip:
- Tip: Manchester City & Not both teams to score
- Bookmaker: Betway
- Odds: 1.59
Expert analysis Manchester City
Manchester City decided the round of sixteen clash against Sporting Lisbon in their favour with a 5-0 away win on 15 February. To be precise, their advancement was already certain at the interval. Because: Pep Guardiola’s team led 4-0 at the half-time thanks to a double strike of Bernardo Silva plus goals of Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden. Afterwards, Raheem Sterling scored the final goal in the 58th minute.
It was the English Premier League leaders’ fifth win in seven appearances in the 2021/2022 Champions League, with the Citizens losing only at Paris Saint-Germain (0-2) and RB Leipzig (1-2). At home, they managed two victories against the dominant first-placed team in Ligue 1 and against the German vice-champion (2-1, 6-3). We therefore expect the Citizens to win the home match against Sporting Lisbon as well. And even then, if Guardiola’s team once again presses less on the accelerator.
The spectators at the Etihad Stadium would undoubtedly be able to cope with the latter. Not least because Manchester City beat fifth-placed city rivals Manchester United 4-1 at home on Sunday. Kevin De Bruyne and Mahrez scored a brace before and after the break respectively.
Eight days earlier, the Citizens won 1-0 at fourth-bottom Everton, the fourth clean sheet in six Premier League games for Guardiola’s side. They largely achieved this against opponents from the second half of the table, but also on 15 January in a 1-0 home win over third-placed Chelsea. Moreover, from today’s point of view, Guardiola can draw from a full squad for the match between Manchester City and Sporting Lisbon.
Expert analysis Sporting Lisbon
Sporting Lisbon’s 0-5 home debacle against Manchester City in the first leg represented their fourth defeat in the 2021/2022 Champions League. Rúben Amorim’s team additionally lost twice against Ajax Amsterdam (1-5, 2-4) and at Borussia Dortmund (0-1).
Meanwhile, the Lions from the Portuguese capital have a completely different performance in the national Primeira Liga. Because: So far, Sporting Lisbon lost there only twice in January. After the second defeat, a 1-2 at home against fourth-placed Sporting Braga, they managed two victories. Amorim’s squad won at last-placed city rivals Belenenses (4-1) and at home against twelfth-placed Famalicão (2-0).
Afterwards, second-placed Sporting Lisbon collected a 2-2 at leaders Porto and a 3-0 win over eighth-placed Estoril Praia. Most recently, the Lions experienced a 1-1 draw away to seventh-placed Marítimo Funchal and a 2-0 home win over fourth-placed Arouca on 5 March. Amorim will have to do without injured right-winger Pedro Gonçalves.
Head-to-head comparison Manchester City – Sporting Lisbon
This is the fourth competitive match between Manchester City and Sporting Lisbon. Because: Before the first leg on 15 February, in which the Citizens won 5-0 away, there were two clashes in the Europa League 2011/2012. Here, Manchester City experienced against Sporting Lisbon a 0-1 away defeat and a 3-2 home victory.
Our betting tip and the best odds
All the more after the 5-0 away win in the first leg, Manchester City will go into the home match against Sporting Lisbon as overwhelming favourites. And that is inevitably reflected in the odds for three-way bets. Moreover, you can collect comparatively little even on half-time/full-time bets. Therefore, we would bet on the fact that Manchester City will win and have a clean sheet.
Moreover, the fact that Pep Guardiola’s team didn’t concede a goal in four out of six league games between mid-January and the end of February underpins our tip. Besides, the Lions from Portugal failed to score in their 0-1 defeat in Dortmund.
Manchester City vs. Sporting Lisbon – betting tip: Manchester City & Not both teams to score, odds 1.59 at bookmaker Betway
