Sports Blog 19/09/2018: UEFA Champions League Preview – Man City vs Lyon/Young Boys vs Man United, Wednesday 19th September 2018

Will 2018/19 finally see Man City capture a long sought-after Champions League title, with their campaign kicking off against Lyon at 8pm on BT Sport 3?

Blip against Wolves aside – against whom they could only claim a point following a 1-1- draw – City have looked every bit the confident champs this season. Arsenal were beaten 2-0, Huddersfield suffered a 6-1 humiliation, Newcastle’s brief comeback was in vain as they lost 2-1, and Fulham were pushed aside with a 3-0 defeat.



That’s 14 goals scored, joint top with league leaders Chelsea (who City beat in the Community Shield), and only 3 conceded, bettered only by Liverpool, leaving Guardiola’s guys with an unchallenged goal difference of 11. Sergio Aguero has typically led from the front, and has a Super Mega PGM of 74-86, while Gabriel Jesus is at 67-77, Raheem Sterling at 39-45 and Leroy Sane at 28-34.

As for their French opponents, Lyon have gotten off to a pretty spotty start to their Ligue 1 season. Wins over both Amiens and Strasbourg were joined by 1-0 losses against Reims and Nice, with last weekend seeing a 2-2 draw against an eventually 9 man Caen. That leaves them a risk for an uncomfortable trip to the Etihad, with Spreadex offering a Man City/Lyon Goal Supremacy spread of 2.15-2.35 alongside a Total Goals spread of 3.5-3.7.

Unlike their neighbours, Man United have had a tense open to 2018/19, with a lot of speculation over Jose Mourinho’s job status. The turmoil has perhaps been a tad overstated, however. While they did indeed lose to Brighton and Tottenham, the latter being a 3-0 collapse at Old Trafford, they have still picked up wins over Leicester, Burnley and, most recently, Watford, ending the Hornets’ until-then unbeaten streak.



Romelu Lukaku has looked mighty fine, with 4 goals in 5 games – a tally only bested by Chelsea’s Eden Hazard – leaving the Belgian with a Super Mega PGM of 42-49. Alexis Sanchez is then at 28-33, with Marcus Rashford at 24-29 and Anthony Martial at 22-27.

Reaching the Champions League proper for the first time in their history, on paper Young Boys very much look like the Group H whipping boys, unable to compete with the clout of Juventus, Valencia and their Wednesday visitors. That explains why Spreadex are offering a Man United/Young Boys (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.7-0.9 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.65-2.85.