Man City v CSKA Moscow Odds : Punters eye Sergio Aguero to fire once more
Manchester City take on CSKA Moscow in the Champions League tonight as the latest odds suggest a straight forward win for the home side at 1/5.
It could be argued that Joe Hart did as much from the bench as Costel Pantilimon did between the sticks in Manchester City’s 7-0 demolition of Norwich on Saturday but City boss Manuel Pellegrini has deemed it enough to keep the England number one out of the team for the Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow.
The Citizens will be looking to put six point between themselves and the Russians, all but guaranteeing a last 16 appearance for them behind holders Bayern Munich.
Man City |
2/1 |
Draw  |
12/5 |
| CSKA Moscow |
6/4 |
The underpinning message from Pellegrini in the Hart issue is that no one is an automatic starter in the team and it is perhaps the impetus that creates that allowed them to play with such intensity for 90 minutes against Norwich.
The fluid interplay between Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri, Alvaro Negredo and David Silva will be a match for any defence in Europe this season and the gutsy display they put on in Moscow last time out is a far cry from the confusion under Roberto Mancini in previous years.
That match was marred by racist chanting from CSKA supporters that were further marred by the reactions of the Russian club and UEFA officials.
On the pitch the Russian champions pose a threat in the form of Zoran Tosic who opened the scoring in the previous encounter and has netted four in two league matches since as well as Keisuke Honda and Seydou Doumbia.
CSKA know that their Champions League rests on this match and a win will put them level with City but coach Leonid Slutsky has spoken admiringly of City’s strength in depth and will likely set his side out not to lose rather than to come home with all three points.
There’s no doubt that the bookmakers fancy a straight forward Manchester City home win as their odds of 1/5 suggest, and for punters there may be better value in backing hotshot striker Sergio Aguero, who can be backed at 3/1 to find the net first with Paddy Power.
Another player who has seen plenty of money today is midfielder Yaya Toure, who looks to be the main threat from free kicks and will have a point to prove.
He can be backed at 7/1 to find the net first, and looks more than a worthy price.
The action kicks off at the Etihad at 19:45 GMT.
