Manchester City v Lyon Tips: Back Sterling to strike City into semi's
After knocking out Real Madrid in the last round, Manchester City take on Lyon in the last of the Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday evening. It would be just the second time that the Cityzens have made the semi-final stage of the tournament but here they face a French side who dumped out Juventus in the last round.
City have failed to beat Lyon in their last three Champions League meetings including a defeat at the Etihad at the start of last season where Lyon were priced at a massive 20/1 for the win. Los Gones aren’t quite as big a price this time round with odds of 12/1 for a win inside 90 minutes with BetVictor. The draw can be backed at 9/2, whilst Manchester City are the short priced favourites at just 1/4 with bet365, an implied probability of victory of 80%.
There have been some rumours this week that Sergio Aguero may feature here for City, but he faces a race against time and it is very likely that Gabriel Jesus will start up front. Benjamin Mendy is available for selection after serving a suspension against Real Madrid. Lyon should be at full strength, however Moussa Dembele was dropped against Juventus and could feature from the bench here once again.
I’ve had a look through the markets for this game and have picked out three football tips I like the look of for the game which kicks off at 20:00 and is live on BT Sport.
Raheem Sterling 2+ shots on target - 1.5pts @ 6/4 - Paddy Power
Memphis Depay to score 5/1 - 0.75pts @ 5/1 - Paddy Power
De Bruyne & Depay 1+ shot on target, Rodri & Bruno Guimaraes carded - 0.5pts @ 50/1 Paddy Power
Raheem Sterling has enjoyed another superb season for Manchester City and for my first selection I’m backing him to have two or more shots on target. He surpassed 100 goals for the club this season, an excellent achievement from a player who continues to go from strength to strength. We’ve become accustomed to his superb performances and ability to find the back of the net and I fancy him to have a big game against Lyon in this quarter-final clash.
Having a look back over Raheem’s last five starts for City and he’s actually managed to land 13 shots on target. Further to this, in the Champions League this season he averages 2.3 shots on target per 90 minutes. City should create plenty of chances here, mainly thanks to the magician that is Kevin De Bruyne. With eight goals in his last seven games, Sterling is a man in form who can carry his team into the semi’s and hopefully land this main bet of the night for us.
Memphis Depay is another who has enjoyed an excellent season with 15 goals in just 20 appearances for Lyon. He’s 5/1 to get on the scoresheet here and that’s a price I’ll be having a little nibble on here.
As mentioned earlier City have failed to beat Lyon on the three times the sides have met in the Champions League with two of those being last season. They are a side they have struggled against before and I feel that if the Frenchmen do end up seeing chances in front of goal, there’s a good chance they could fall to former Manchester United forward Memphis Depay.
The Dutchman has impressively scored in all six of his Champions League appearances this season. A stat that gives plenty of substance to the 5/1 available here from Paddy Power. He’s been known to have a set-piece in his locker too, and I’m hoping he can find the back of the net here in Lisbon.
Finally I’ve got a rather tempting 50/1 shot that I've picked out that comes in the form of Kevin De Bruyne & Memphis Depay to have a shot on target with both Rodri and Bruno Guimaraes to be carded.
The first element of this four-pronged punt is that man Kevin to have one shot on target. One of the best players in the world at the moment, everything he touches seems to turn to gold. He averages 2.7 shots per game this season and is on penalties and free-kicks for the Sky Blues. The first name on the team sheet for Pep, and the first name in this Same Game Multi, let’s go KDB!
I’ve already touched on how Memphis Depay has scored six goals in six Champions League appearances this season. So besides backing him to score, I’m backing him to have one or more shots on target. He averages more shots per game than any player at Lyon this season with an impressive 3.7 per game.
Moving onto the cards, and for City I’m putting my faith into Rodri to find his way into the book. He’s been cautioned more times this season than any other player for Pep Guardiola’s side with 11 in all competitions. He loves to break up play and is one of the players I’m opting for in this 50/1 longshot.
Finally rounding things off is Lyon’s Bruno Guimaraes to pick up a card. He only arrived in January from Brazilian side Atletico Paranaense but has already been booked twice in just seven games. The defensive-midfielder looks a decent prospect here to find his way into referee Danny Makkelie’s notebook.
City are currently the 2/1 favourites in the Champions League winner market and look to have a great chance of making it the semi finals. Whatever happens, enjoy the game and please always make sure to gamble responsibly.
