Manchester City vs Crvena Zvezda Prediction 19.09.2023

• Competition: UEFA Champions League - Group G
• Date: Tuesday, 19th, September 2023
• Kickoff: 20:00 UK / 21.00 CEST
• Venue: Etihad Stadium (Manchester)

Manchester City, the current holders, launch their mission to defend the Champions League trophy with a home match against Serbian giants Red Star at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

After the phenomenal previous season, Manchester City put the icing on the cake by defeating Inter in the final with a score of 1-0, securing the long-awaited "big-eared" trophy and completing the famous treble (FA Cup, Champions League, and Premier League). Naturally, Pep Guardiola and his chosen ones are once again counted among the main contenders to claim the UCL title. Considering the competition in the group, which includes teams like RB Leipzig, Young Boys, and their Tuesday rival, progression to the knockout stage seems almost unquestionable.

Red Star Belgrade achieved historic success in the previous competitive year, becoming national champions for the 34th time and securing a place in the group stage of the Champions League for the first time since the 1991-92 season. During the summer, the management of the red and whites worked tirelessly to bring in adequate reinforcements that would enable them to progress from the group stage. Nevertheless, the chances of Barak Bachar's men causing an upset in Group G are slim, unless they contend for the consolation third place with Young Boys.

Manchester City vs Crvena Zvezda Betting Tips: BTTS - NO

On paper, the class difference between Manchester City and Red Star is so significant that it's not a question of whether they will win, but by how many goals the English team will triumph. Additionally, the Serbian champions experienced a cold shower before their visit to the current European champions. Indeed, Barak Bakhar's team failed to mend the cracks in their game that were evident before the international break, as they suffered their second consecutive away defeat, this time at the hands of Cukaricki on Banovo Brdo.

That's why the Red and Whites have little to seek on Tuesday at the Etihad Stadium, a pitch where Manchester City has strung an incredible 19 triumphs across all competitions, boasting a goal difference of 63-8. Pep Guardiola is likely to step onto the field with a blended lineup, as this match doesn't demand his team's full strength. In spite of this, the champions of Europe are expected to validate their prowess and dominate every dimension of the game throughout the complete 90 minutes. Consequently, we hold hope that the Citizens will kick off their Champions League title defense emphatically, preserving a clean sheet!