Two European football heavyweights will clash on Wednesday, December 11, when Manchester City visits Juventus at the Allianz Arena at 3 p.m. ET,
Here is my Juventus vs. Manchester City prediction and Champions League odds for tonight's match.
Juventus vs. Manchester City Prediction, Pick, Odds
| Man City Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-0.5 -108 | 2.5 100o / -125u | -112 |
| Juventus Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+0.5 -104 | 2.5 100o / -125u | +290 |
- Juventus vs. Manchester City moneyline odds: Juventus +290, Draw +250, Manchester City -112
- Juventus vs. Manchester City over/under: 2.5 Goals (Over +100, Under -125)
- Juventus vs. Manchester City pick: Under 2.5 Goals
I am backing Under 2.5 Goals in the Juventus vs. Manchester City match.
Juventus Prediction
A nine-game undefeated streak sounds good, until you count the seven draws Juventus picked up in the process. La Vecchia Signora hangs by a thread in the Champions League standings after dropping points against Aston Villa, Lille and Stuttgart, and could drop out of a playoff spot with a loss.
The shocking loss to the German side was Thiago Motta's sides first of the season, but wins have also been hard to come by. Saturday's 2-2 tie against Bologna was their ninth in 15 league games.
The good news for La Vecchia Signora is the return of several key personnel. Last season's top goalscorer, Dusan Vlahovic, is back, along with Nicolo Savona, Douglas Luiz and former Man City defender Danilo. The Serbian star striker had an immediate impact, assisting Samuel Mbangula against Bologna in the 92nd minute of the 2-2 tie.
Manchester City Prediction
If Pep Guardiola has ever had a crisis of confidence as Manchester City's boss, this has to be the moment. The Citizens snapped a seven-game winless streak against Nottingham Forest on December 4, but departed with more questions than answers after drawing 2-2 with Crystal Palace. Sitting in 18th in the Champions League table, the margin for error is shrinking.
The reigning Premier League champions are enduring their worst run of form since Guardiola took charge.
Their last UCL outing saw them waste a three-goal lead in 15 minutes at home. They've also conceded seven goals in their past two European games.
Rodri remains the biggest missing piece for Guardiola. City faces 1.2 shots per game in the Premier League, over double what they faced last season, exposing an already flimsy defense.
While City's game has been uninspired for some time, injuries are also playing a part. Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji had to be taken off in last week's win over Nottingham Forest, joining John Stones and Mateo Kovacic on the injury list. Phil Foden, out with bronchitis during the draw with Crystal Palace, could make a comeback.
Juventus vs. Manchester City Prediction
"Juve is Juve. In Italy, they are the best team," Guardiola said. Vlahovic's return will give Juventus an edge at home, but the Old Lady lacks sharpness up front to win outright. Still, Motta has constructed one of the best defensive outfits in Europe and I'd be surprised to see them drop the act against a City team that can be predictable at times.
Manchester City, meanwhile, is quite the opposite. They may be unbeaten in their past six matches against Italian teams (4-0-2), but they've been leaking goals at the back. Even if their scoring prowess overcomes Juve's defense, they won't be able to stop Juve for long.
As a result, the matchup between teams at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to attacking and defending stinks of a low-scoring draw.
Juventus vs. Manchester City Pick: Under 2.5 Goals
