Europa League
2010-09-16 - FC Salzburg vs Manchester City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : Europa League, Group Stage Match Day 1
Thursday 16 September 2010 - Kickoff 6pm
This match is on TV
FC Salzburg
FC Salzburg will be eagerly awaiting the match against the big spending Manchester City side and the Austrians will be hoping they can replicate some of the form from last season that saw reach the last 32 of this competition. They have not made the best of starts to their domestic campaign, currently in 8th position in the 10 team League and they are already 11 points behind the leader.
The side were beaten in the Champions League final Play Off round by Hapoel Tel-Aviv, losing here in Austria being their ultimate downfall. They were also beaten by an Israeli team at the same stage last season, which was their last home defeat in European competition until this year. Salzburg won all 6 games in their group stage last season, a group that included Villarreal, Lazio and Levski Sofia, and they have only lost 1 of their last 7 European games at home.
The home side are expected to line up in a 4-5-1 formation, a tactic that they are familiar with.
Manchester City
All the positives from City's first 2 Premier League games of the season have been put to the backburner after only picking up 1 point from their last 2 games and Roberto Mancini has made it clear that he wants his side to win their next 6 games before the international break in October.
Manchester City are the favourites to win this competition and will have to prove why they are in a group which also includes the 2nd favourite Juventus. City have not been involved in European competition since the 2009 season and they had failed to win 4 away games in Europe before their win in Timisoara in the last round. However, this is a different Manchester City now.
Emmanuel Adebayor and Joleon Lescott are both out of this game and Wayne Bridge should come in at left back. Jo and Carlos Tevez are the only recognised forwards as Mario Balotelli is not expect back until next month.
Prediction
FC Salzburg have shown last season that they are a good side, winning the Austrian title and also progressing through a tough Europa League group with maximum points. They will look to keep their formation tight and make it hard for City to break them down.
Manchester City have shown a tendency to be a little defensive in their matches so far this season, and it seems that Roberto Mancini can sometimes be guilty on ensuring his side do not lose rather than win games. They have shown their defensive quality with only 2 goals conceded in their 6 competitive games- 1 penalty and 1 mistake by Joe Hart- and I am sure they will come out and prove difficult to score against.
This game is another one I look at and I cannot see too many goals in it. It is conceivable that 1 goal will win the game, and so I favour the under 2.5 goal option again. The price on a City win looks short, especially in group competition when a draw will suffice for Mancini I am sure, and so the unders at a bigger price suits me fine.
The Pick :
FC Salzburg 1-1 Manchester City
BEST BETTING TIP :
Under 2.5 Goals
