I seriously doubt either set of players will risk life and limb in search of victory in this first group match, so there's a good chance of them settling for a draw if the teams are still deadlocked after 70 minutes or so. Keeping in mind the two other two teams in this group, neither team will be too upset with a draw. I can see both Real Madrid and Manchester City maulicating Ajax Amsterdam and beating Borussia Dortmund as well. If I had to choose a 'value bet' for this match, it would have to be the draw.

Agree with that Quatsch.  Let's say it's 1-1 at 75 mins, neither would want to risk losing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORDoTz0626Q&feature=g-user-u

real madrid v city   preview

I back Citeh when i feel they will win

Laid Madrid @ 1.19 in the 'to qualify' market.
Dortmund are no mugs, could be tight group, tonight
will tell us a lot...

lukekelly i reckon Ajax could get through this group

opening tactics anyone

i reckon mancini want it tight

you could put Mourinho in charge of Basle and his record would be shocking! Saying Mancini has a shocking record at this level means nothing. City were unlucky not to get out of the group stages last year and have another horrible group on paper.

I'm not saying City will win you ballbag, I'm saying that they will at least compete with Madrid. Real were poor at weekend and deserved to be beat, City only managed a draw but really should have won by a couple. They've got big game players in the squad who won't be fazed by the atmosphere and perhaps they even have players who will excel in it like Yaya, Silva & Tevez. So I don't see a humping being dished out just a competitive match between two very, very good teams.

he hadn't won the Premier League either until last year

yep always wait for linups

and yep could well hit 2.1

whats that 47 ticks or so form sp at mo

thats a swing trade and a half that one

maybe you can enlighten us as to your reasons why Mancini as a manager can not win the Champions League

I have a tasty bet forany1 with a bwin accounts I whet the appetite for tonight... Both to score No in the Levadia Tallinn and Kalju games... 11/8.. If u look at the odds on the win and their previous meetings there's not many goals for the away teams plus the gulf in class is pretty big between the teams. I've 20 on the double

and you would say the same if he was the Real Madrid or Barcelona manager?

you can't win the Champions League with Barnsley (sorry Barnsley you just sprang to mind for some reason )

you mean like Guardiola and Mourinho did last year?

Messi and Ronaldo i said not Messi or Ronaldo

Seriously we all know Munchini is not a world class coach no point debating this

It all depends on Madrid's attitude and whether they consider playing Man City a "big game?"

If they do, and are up for it then they win comfortably.

Spanish newspaper today (apologies for the shoddy translation but I couldn't be bothered so google translated it!)

The game requires the Madrid to regroup in full seizure. Jose Mourinho, the manager, did something unusual in Seville last Saturday, when he confessed that he had no team feeling. The statement sounded like capitulation, a complaint of sedition. Mourinho spoke as those coaches who feel they are out. About to be fired. His players did not interpret his words as a formula to encourage them, but as a gesture toward breaking codes coexistence that remained attached to the locker room during the past year.