Man City vs Crvena zvezda Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Group Stage
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THE FACTS
When is Man City vs Crvena zvezda on and what time does it start? Man City vs Crvena zvezda will take place on Tuesday 19th September, 2023 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Man City vs Crvena zvezda? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Man City vs Crvena zvezda on in the UK? Man City vs Crvena zvezda will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Man City vs Crvena zvezda in the UK? Man City vs Crvena zvezda can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
MAN CITY
The reigning European champions begin the defence of their title with a plum home fixture against a side they are expected to comfortably overcome, and the manner in which they have started the season would certainly indicate that they will be one of the teams to beat once more.
After the disappointment of losing the Community Shield on penalties to Arsenal, Pep Guardiola’s men subsequently claimed the UEFA Super Cup title and have won their first five games of the Premier League season.
CRVENA ZVEZDA
Crvena zvezda return to the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2018-19 season, and the third time overall, after they ran away with the Serbian league title last season without losing a game throughout the entire domestic campaign.
They have finished bottom of the group on both previous attempts, but they have recorded a famous win against English opposition having shocked Liverpool when they beat them 2-0 in the season that Jurgen Klopp's men went all the way.
THE TEAM NEWS
MAN CITY
Although this is a hugely favourable opening fixture for City, Pep Guardiola is unlikely to rest his key men so early in the competition, although the likes of Nathan Ake, Sergio Gomez and Kalvin Phillips are candidates to come into the side.
John Stones and Jack Grealish will not recover in time for this one, and Kevin De Bruyne is some way off a return, but Mateo Kovacic has a chance of inclusion.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Rúben Dias, Ake; Rodri, Bernardo Silva; Foden, Alvarez, Doku; Haaland
UNAVAILABLE: De Bruyne (Injured), Grealish (Injured), Stones (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Kovacic (Injured)
CRVENA ZVEZDA
Barak Bakhar is blessed with a fully-fit squad with which to choose his XI here, so his main dilemma will be which system to opt for in this testing away trip.
Various defensive setups have been adopted so far this season, but a defensively-minded back five seems most likely here, given the quality of opposition they face.
PREDICTED XI (5-3-2): Glazer; Degenek, Mijailović, Dragović, Stamenic, Hvang; Ivanić, Bukari, Mitrović; Krasso, Olayinka
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
The only factor preventing City from running away with this game is if complacency creeps in against opposition they are expected to breeze past, but that is rarely an affliction suffered by Pep Guardiola's teams. Crvena zvezda will relish playing against the Champions League holders here, and will be highly motivated to cause a shock, but they should ultimately be outclassed. The Serbian side have lost all six of the away games they have contested in the Champions League group stage by an aggregate score of 22-2, and they are likely to lose convincingly here.
TIP: MAN CITY TO WIN WITH A -2.5 HANDICAP
