Lee Dixon: Expect goals as City exit the Champions League

The man in the middle - can Roberto Mancini deliver a win?

They may have assembled one of the most talented squads in English football history but Manchester City have too much to do and Lee Dixon sees them going out in a blaze of goals at the Etihad...

How did it come to this? Manchester City face a must-win game for Champions League survival with Real Madrid the opposition. Ouch. 

With four games gone, City trail Jose Mourinho's second-placed outfit by five points in Group D. They must emerge from this 90 minutes with a first win in this year's competition to their name. If not we'll be turning off the lights early on another Champions League campaign. 

The task is huge - Opta tell us that just two teams have qualified for the next stage ever had two points or fewer after four match days and (Lokomotiv 2002-03 & Porto 2004-05). 

City are 19.018/1 to qualify from Group D and, at 3.259/4, the Betfair market makes them clear outsiders to beat Real who can be backed at 2.245/4 with the draw a 3.953/1 shot.

But before wading into Cristiano Ronaldo and co, ask yourself if the City hierarchy will accept seeing their expensively assembled group of stars roll over and die in a home fixture against the glamour boys of European football. I can't see it happening and am expecting all-out attack from the home side as they seek to get the advantage they need to claim three precious points.

City are playing the ultimate game of catch-up and that should make for a great match as they have to go for it at some point. Yes, there are 90 minutes to every football match and a patient approach could pay, but human nature will force City to be a little gung-ho!

And given both teams are blessed with outrageous talents in attack, I'm expecting goals at the Etihad. Real Madrid will invite the home side onto them and play on the break, at least in the early skirmishes at least, and I expect them to be the perfect counter attack team.

I can see a rush of goals late on as City push on for the win and, rather than backing at 2.56/4 pre-match, maybe it will pay to take a price on over 3.5 in-play? I certainly think both teams will score but 1.4840/85 is a short price. 

Looking at individual scorers could this be the match that captain Vincent Kompany chooses to open his account for the season? The Belgian notched three times last season and I'll be looking to get matched at close to 14.013/1 on the exchange for him to score. 

At a far lower price will be Ronaldo. He would love to beat City in Manchester and, given he writes his own scripts, let's take a punt on him to score at least two times.  

Recommended Bets 
Back over 3.5 goals @ 2.56/4
Back Vincent Kompany to score @ 14.013/1
Back Ronaldo to score two goals or more