Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen predictions and betting tips – Guardiola’s team to bounce back
Having suffered defeat by Newcastle United at the weekend, Manchester City will be looking to return to winning ways when Bayer Leverkusen visit the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Will Pep Guardiola’s side come out on top in front of their own supporters, or can Leverkusen spring a surprise?
- Manchester City to win and both teams to score – 7/5 with Betfred
- Over 3.5 goals – 10/11 with BetVictor
- Phil Foden to score any time – 11/8 with bet365
Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen odds
Find the latest Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.
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Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen predictions
Just when it looked like Manchester City were getting back to their best, they came unstuck.
A 2-1 defeat by Newcastle United on Saturday has left City seven points adrift of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
Even at this relatively early stage of proceedings, it would take a huge effort for Pep Guardiola’s men to win the title.
Only someone who has not paid much attention to the Premier League in the Guardiola era would write them off entirely, but the weekend just gone provided yet more evidence that this City team is not as complete as some of its predecessors.
In fairness to City, it was a game that could have gone either way. Had they been more clinical in and around the penalty area, the visitors to St James’ could have triumphed.
Yet it is also true that City do not play with as much control as they once did. That was evident not only against Newcastle, but in several matches they have played this season.
Without that quality, it is difficult to envisage City being able to stick with Arsenal over the course of a 38-game season. And if Erling Haaland were to get injured, that would surely extinguish their remaining hopes.
In the Champions League, though, City deserve to be considered contenders. They are not quite in the top bracket containing Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but City are arguably the best of the rest.
The league phase table reflects that. In fact, City are above PSG and Madrid at the midway point, with Arsenal, Bayern and Inter the only teams ahead of them.
A record of three wins and a draw to date means City are in a strong position to secure a top-eight berth and avoid the knockout phase play-offs that brought their elimination last time out.
A trip to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu to face Madrid awaits in a fortnight’s time, but with Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray their last two opponents in the league phase, City will be on course to advance directly to the round of 16 provided they beat Bayer Leverkusen this week.
That should not be taken for granted given Leverkusen’s improvement under Kasper Hjulmand, but the bookies are right to mark City down as clear favourites for Tuesday’s tussle.
Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen are ready to do battle at the Etihad Stadium – who wins?
City should have too much
After a defeat and a draw in their first two games of the campaign, the Bayer Leverkusen board acted decisively.
Out went Erik ten Hag, who had only been appointed in the summer, and in came the aforementioned Hjulmand. It is still early days, but the decision looks to have been a wise one.
Leverkusen are up to third in the Bundesliga, with Bayern Munich the only team boasting a better record since Hjulmand took charge.
Things have not gone so well in the Champions League, though, with Leverkusen having failed to win three of their four games.
They have at least scored in each of those contests, but Manchester City will have too much for Leverkusen.
Back Manchester City to win and both teams to score at 7/5 with Betfred
Goals in store on Tuesday
Manchester City have tightened up this season compared to last, but that lack of control makes them more vulnerable defensively.
Bayer Leverkusen should get chances here, especially if they can break forward quickly when the ball changes hands.
In three of their last five Bundesliga games, there have been over 3.5 goals. In this competition, meanwhile, Leverkusen recently lost 7-2 to Paris Saint-Germain.
City’s last European outing came against another German outfit, with Borussia Dortmund going down 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Expect goals again this week.
Go for over 3.5 goals at 10/11 with BetVictor
Foden needs a goal
Guardiola himself has acknowledged Manchester City’s overreliance on Erling Haaland for goals.
And after Saturday’s loss to Newcastle, he admitted that City have not been clinical enough in general of late.
“Yes [the chances] were clear, but we have to score more goals. Our players have the ability and quality to do it,” Guardiola said.
One player who needs to contribute more is Phil Foden, who has just one league strike to his name this term.
Foden has struck twice in Europe, though, and we back him to breach Bayer Leverkusen’s backline on matchday five.
Tip Phil Foden to score any time at 11/8 with bet365
Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen predicted lineups
- Manchester City expected lineup: Donnarumma; Nunes, Stones, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Gonzalez; Savinho, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
- Bayer Leverkusen expected lineup: Flekken; Belocian, Bade, Quansah; Tella, Maza, Garcia, Grimaldo; Tillman, Poku; Schick.
Where to watch Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen
- Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England.
- Date and time: Tuesday 25th November, 8pm.
- How to watch: TNT Sports 1.
More Champions League predictions
We have plenty more Champions League predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.
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About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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