Manchester City v Lyon: City Slickers set for Dominant 90 Minutes

Having cruised to the Premier league title last season, Manchester City are one of the favourites to win the Champions League this time around. Pep Guardiola’s men are tipped to break the Real Madrid monopoly in this competition and on Wednesday night, they get their campaign underway at the Etihad.

Travelling to Manchester are Ligue Un side Lyon but while the French club will be hopeful of a positive result, the bookies can only see this going one way.

Match Odds

The odds setters are expecting a very one-sided game at the Etihad and it’s Manchester City who start as favourites at best odds of just 1/5 with Betway. A draw on the night follows at a top price of 36/5 with MarathonBet while victory for Lyon is right out at a best of 16/1 with Ladbrokes and 10Bet.

Current form would certainly back those prices up as City are unbeaten in their first five Premier League games of 2018/19 and have dropped just two points away to Wolves. Lyon, in contrast, have seen a very mixed start to their campaign in Ligue Un with two wins, two defeats and a draw at Caen last time out.

Based on form and the relative qualities of the two sides, it’s hard not to agree with the bookmakers and with little value in that 1/5 win price, we’ll move straight on to the side bets.

Individual Goal Scorers

Sergio Aguero

Sergio Aguero has made another positive start to a new season with three goals in his opening four league matches and City’s main striker is favourite to open the scoring on Wednesday at best odds of 11/4 with Betway.

Gabriel Jesus has also been on the mark this season and the Brazilian follows at 15/4 with Betway before we come to Leroy Sane at a top price of 11/2 with Unibet. Sane hasn’t been a guaranteed starter for his club this season so punters may want to avoid him and look instead at Raheem Sterling who is listed at the same best of 11/2 with Betway this time.

Manchester City players continue to dominate the first goalscorer market with Riyad Mahrez on offer at best odds of 13/2 with BetFred while even reserve midfielder Phil Foden gets ahead of the Lyon men at 8/1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill.

The first representative for the French side will be familiar to City supporters as Memphis Depay had an unproductive period with great rivals Manchester United. Depay can be claimed at best odds of 14/1 with BetBright while you could also take Lyon’s new signing from Celtic – Moussa Dembele – at the same top price of 14/1 with BetBright and Betway.

There are a number on interesting options there but the player that interests us is Raheem Sterling. The winger has enjoyed another productive start to a new season with three goals in four games and while you could play safer and take the England man in the anytime goal market at a best of 11/8 with BetFred, that tally means we’re happy to take the bigger punt at 11/2 to open the scoring.

Other Side Bets

Manchester City have scored 14 times in five games this season and that’s a healthy return but the stats aren’t as positive for Lyon. The French unit have failed to score in two of their five matches and have a tally of six at this stage.

With that in mind, we’re not tempted by the best odds of 10/11 on Both Teams to Score and would be more tempted by the 51/50 from MarathonBet on the ‘no’ option in this market. Instead, we’ll add Manchester City to win to nil which offers slightly better value at a top price of 23/20 with Ladbrokes and Coral.

Value is absent in the Overs and Unders markets too where the popular Over 2.5 goals is very short at 3/10 with 10Bet. Even the over 3.5 option is low at 3/4 with Betway. Those are the prices if you want to get involved but we’ll finish with a Correct Score bet of 3-0 to Manchester City at best odds of 8/1 with 10Bet and Sport Pesa.

The tips are slightly longer shots than we would often go for and there are safer bets available but there are some good prices here on a night where Manchester City should dominate.

Best Bets:

• Raheem Sterling to score the first goal at 11/2 with Betway
• Manchester City to win to nil at 23/20 with Ladbrokes
• Correct Score of Manchester City 3 Lyon 0 at 8/1 with 10Bet