22nd Sep 2018 | Premier League
Champions' Vengeance
Any talk of trouble at Man City is fairly absurd just because they lost a game for once. Pep is back in the dugout and the least fancied side in the Premier League are in for a long afternoon.
Manchester United fans were among many rivals chuckling at Manchester City’s unexpected comeuppance at home to Lyon in the Champions League in midweek but expect the champions to bounce back quickly.
Pep Guardiola was in the stands for that one but he’ll be back on the touchline here, making sure that his team use it as a huge wake-up call. Back City -2 goals in the handicap market at best odds of 6/5 with PaddyPower.
They didn’t reach 100pts last season by dwelling on setbacks and there can be no doubting their enduring quality. The fact that City top the ‘big chances missed’ table in 2018-19 with 15 shows the potential to get even better in a campaign featuring just two dropped points.
I fear Cardiff are facing this fixture at the wrong time. Not just because their opponents have a score to settle, but because it’s hot on the heels of courageous but fruitless performances against Chelsea (4-1) and Arsenal (2-3).
This is another step-up and Warnock’s boys will struggle to get the ball, let alone keep the score down.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 07:02 22nd Sep, 2018 but subject to change