Kick-off: 2000, 09/03/2022
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
TV: BT Sport
Manchester City have effectively already secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals and Sporting Lisbon will hope that means they can avoid another heavy defeat in the second leg.
City are 5-0 up from the first leg in the Portuguese capital and are firm favourites to also win the return match at the Etihad Stadium.
They could be forgiven for being less ruthless this time though so a home win and under 3.5 goals at 2.05 is our opening Man City vs Sporting Lisbon prediction.
Manchester City Odds
City emphasised why they are the outright favourites in the Champions League betting with a scintillating display at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
Bernardo Silva led the way with two goals while Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling also struck, continuing their rich veins of goalscoring form. Phil Foden claimed another and Silva was denied a hat-trick by VAR.
Yet in a warning to the rest of the competition, City manager Guardiola demanded more of his players after the game, admitting he was far happier with the scoreline than the performance.
He said: “I am absolutely more than delighted. We know how difficult it is. We were so clinical – when we arrived at their box we scored a goal.
“We defended well and got an incredible result but we have a duty as a manager and team to analyse how we performed, not just the result.
“We have to take care of the ball better. One of the rules I have is when you have the ball try to pass to someone in the same T-shirt. Today we lost the ball many times.
“The difference was that we were so clinical. Then it is difficult for the opponents and we have confidence. It is a dream, a perfect result, so good for the second leg but we can do better.”
City won both halves of the first leg and, looking at the Man City vs Sporting Lisbon odds, 2.05 for that to be the case again looks decent value.
Sporting Lisbon Odds
Sporting could be forgiven for fearing the worst when they head to Manchester for the second leg.
Coach Ruben Amorim admitted City had been too strong in Portugal, saying: “We knew it would be a difficult game, they are probably the best team in the world.
“We tried but every time they got to our box they scored. They are a great team and they killed us every time they got to our box.
“After the third goal it became suffering, it was no longer football. They have more years’ experience and a better coach and they have played more minutes than us.
“We couldn’t find a solution. We were powerless and I have to apologise to my players.”
The visitors will hope to restore some pride but we like a 3-0 home win at 6.50 as the last of our Man City vs Sporting Lisbon betting tips.
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