Will the Citizens continue to feed their exceptional Norwegian striker?
If a stadium announcer happens to miss a goal for the Citizens this season, he could take a chance and announce the name of Erling Haaland and most likely be correct. The Norwegian striker is the key player for the Skyblues and extremely important for our Villarreal vs. Manchester City tip.
His teammates are by no means playing badly. They just lack scoring efficiency and composure in front of the opponent’s goal. Pep Guardiola recently criticized the lack of output because his professionals obviously have enough scoring opportunities. The visitors will also have a few chances to score in our Villarreal vs. Manchester City prediction.
It is high time for the English representatives to address their away weakness in the Champions League. This is not a cause for concern for German betting providers and their bookmaker colleagues. According to the Villarreal vs. Manchester City betting odds, the Skyblues are the clear favorites going into the third matchday.
If Guardiola’s team takes action and wins at the Estadio de la Ceramica, it would be their first Champions League away win after five consecutive winless away games. Most recently, the Citizens failed in Monaco more because of their own mistakes than because of the resistance of the Monegasques (2-2).
Following the dropped points, however, the ten-time English champions celebrated two competitive wins (1-0 vs. Brentford, 2-0 vs. Everton) and moved back up to second place in the Premier League. Their form is well documented with eight consecutive competitive games without defeat.
Villarreal vs. Manchester City AI prediction
The AI also expects a comfortable away win. The AI’s Villarreal vs. Manchester City prediction confirms the Skyblues’ status as favorites, but predicts a goal for the hosts. You can get the same odds for this at Betano as for our betting recommendation.
Villarreal – Statistics & current form
The current schedule is not kind to the home side. Following their 1-0 home win against Athletic Bilbao, the Yellow Submarine has gone three competitive games without a win (2D, 1L). The third-placed team in the Spanish Primera Division salvaged a point against Juventus (2-2), but three days later suffered a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid.
Last weekend’s 2-2 draw was particularly frustrating. Head coach Marcelino had to watch his team squander a 2-0 lead against Betis Sevilla in their own stadium. Both goals were scored by the same player – Antony, a former Red Devil.
As in the previous three competitive games, the home side’s defense will be put to the test in Villarreal vs. Manchester City. According to our estimates, the fourth competitive game in a row threatens to see two or more goals conceded.
Inferior in the Champions League
The Spanish side’s offense is definitely capable of scoring. The hosts have scored a total of five goals in their three previous competitive games. Summer signing Georges Mikautadze scored his first Champions League goal for his new team against Juventus (2-2).
At the national level, he is one of five professionals in Marcelino’s team with two or more goals this season. The top scorer is Tajon Buchanan (4 La Liga goals) – also a new signing (Inter Milan). However, the air is getting significantly thinner in Europe’s top competition.
The hosts have gone winless in their last five Champions League games (across seasons) (2D, 3L). In addition, the Yellow Submarine has been waiting for a win in seven direct duels with an English representative in one of the three major European competitions (2D, 5L).
Manchester City – Statistics & current form
On the wings of a series of eight unbeaten competitive games, the Citizens fly to Spain this week for a clash with the third-placed team in La Liga. Pep Guardiola can be satisfied with his team’s start to the season, especially in the wake of the critical preseason.
His most valuable player in the current situation is Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker finds his way into the opponent’s penalty area with his eyes closed and has scored 23 goals in 13 competitive games (club & association). In the Premier League, the 25-year-old is responsible for 64.7 percent of City’s goals.
This high level of dependence has not been detrimental so far. In the battle for the English championship, Guardiola’s team is still in touch with the top of the table and has yet to suffer a defeat in the Champions League (2-0 vs. Napoli, 2-2 vs. Monaco).
The Skyblues end their losing streak
The ten-time English champions have failed to win any of their last five Champions League away games (1D, 4L). However, this streak could have ended on the second matchday in Monaco (2-2), but a penalty from Eric Dier in the 90th minute prevented an away win.
Nevertheless, Guardiola’s protégés once again impressed with their play, as they did in the second half against Everton last weekend (2-0). During their CL dress rehearsal, the Skyblues created scoring chances worth 2.82 expected goals.
According to our Villarreal vs. Manchester City prediction, the visitors will also have enough scoring chances in Spain – but this time, Erling Haaland’s teammates will make better use of their opportunities. At least that is the expectation of Pep Guardiola, who openly admitted after the 2-0 win against Everton, “We have to score more.”
Villarreal – Manchester City Head-to-head record
The Citizens have also scored multiple goals in their two previous encounters with Villarreal. In 2011, the two clubs met in the Champions League group stage. The English side won the home game 2-1 and followed it up with a 3-0 away win shortly afterwards.
Villarreal – Manchester City Tip
We are well aware of the risk we are taking. The hosts have not lost a home game in any competition this season. However, recent matches against high-quality teams have shown how vulnerable Marcelino’s back line can be in top games.
Erling Haaland will exploit any gaps. The Norwegian striker is in excellent form, having scored three of Manchester City’s four Champions League goals and celebrating at least one goal in each of his last six consecutive Premier League matches.
In contrast to last season, the teamwork in Pep Guardiola’s team is working excellently again. Manchester City had over 70 percent possession in both CL games and played a total of 1,092 passes in the opponent’s half – 523 more than any other participant.
Under constant pressure from the Skyblues, Villarreal will make concentration errors as the game progresses and give up high-percentage scoring opportunities to Erling Haaland and his teammates.
