Champions League Tips: Another dismissal likely at the Etihad

Man City host Barcelona on Tuesday night

Another set of four Champions League fixtures for James Horncastle to get his teeth stuck into, and here our man provides a brief preview and selection for each of the midweek games...

Tuesday

Man City v Barcelona
Live on ITV, 19:45

Take it as an omen. Malaga hadn't returned from the Camp Nou with a point since 1999. And yet on Saturday afternoon, Manuel Pellegrini's former side claimed an improbable win in Catalonia. Now it's up to Man City to do the same at the Etihad.

Luis Enrique called the weekend's defeat an accident. Barcelona had been on a run of 11 straight victories until Dani Alves made a calamitous mistake. But even with Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi all on the field, they mustered less than a handful of shots on goal. These things happen. Perhaps the Blaugrana's focus was already on Tuesday's game in Manchester.

Kept in reserve at the weekend, Javier Mascherano's return to the line up will definitely add greater solidity and Barca remain a highly provocative team that will cause the English champions problems.

Reduced to 10 men in both legs when they met last season, City have to be careful. Barca's opponents have been shown seven red cards this season. In Sergio Agero, City also have a player who can make even the best centre-backs launch the kind of challenge that leads to an early bath as Bayern Munich's Mehdi Benatia can attest. Back the ref to show a red card at 4.03/1 or better.

Recommended Bet
Back YES to Sending Off @ 4.03/1

Juventus v Borussia Dortmund
Live on Sky Sports 1, 19:45

A repeat of the 1997 final, Juventus are aware that Dortmund aren't the force they were when they finished runners up at Wembley a couple of years ago but also know that their position in the Bundesliga, they're down in 12th, is a false one.

Jrgen Klopp's side still have issues at the back but there are signs that the Dortmund of old are coming back. Marco Reus has been the catalyst behind three straight wins and if there's one thing Juventus are vulnerable to it's high intensity football and lightning quick counters, a Dortmund speciality.

Juventus have been unconvincing of late in Serie A but an explanation for that can be found in a complacency borne out of the fading challenge to their title in Italy and minds already being on BVB. They haven't lost at the Juventus Stadium in almost two years in all competitions, but the last time was to Bayern, a team that copied Dortmund's full throttle fussball approach.

Considering they fell behind against Cesena and Atalanta over the last 10 days, backing Dortmund to be winning at half-time and the honors finishing even at full-time has an attraction.

Recommended Bet
Back Dortmund HT / Draw FT @ 19.018/1

Wednesday

Arsenal v Monaco
Live on Sky Sports 5, 19:45

Monaco were so bling a year ago. The signings of Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez ensured that the team for once matched the glitz, the glamour and the excess of the principality. Both however were sold in the summer as owner Dimitry Rybolovlev scaled back his investment and there is nothing flash about the club now.

Instead coach Leonardo Jardim has made Monaco as hard to crack as one of the safe deposit boxes on this stretch of the Cte d'Azur. They had the best defence in the Champions League group stages allowing only single goal. Dorian Lvque's strike for Guingamp earlier this month was the first Daniel Subasic conceded in 842 minutes.

Even without centre-backs Andrea Raggi and Ricardo Carvalho, they are extremely difficult to prise open. One-nil winners at Ashburton Grove in the Emirates Cup back in August, it wouldn't be at all surprising, despite Arsenal's firepower, if this were to be a low-scoring affair.

Recommended Bet
Back Under 1.5 Goals @ 3.412/5

Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid
Live on Sky Sports 1, 19:45

The first thing that springs to mind when the draw paired Leverkusen and Atleti together is intensity. Roger Schmidt's team however are at risk of fizzling out. They have slipped to sixth in the Bundesliga and have only won two of their last 10 games.

Like his opposite number Diego Simeone, the former Salzburg tactician doesn't rotate all that much. For instance, top scorer Karim Bellarabi has played 1,910 minutes in the league while his stand-in Julien Brandt has featured in only 508. Stefan Kieling has clocked up 1683 minutes, his back up Josip Drmic only 506. Hakan Calhanoglu has been on the pitch for 1588 minutes, Robbie Kruse only 47. The difference is that, unlike Atleti's players, they appear close to burnout, even after a long winter break. Too often they lose shape and are picked off on the counter.

Antoine Greizmann is in outstanding form. His brace against Almeria on Saturday took his tally to 11 in his last 13 games. Back him as an Anytime Goalscorer on the sportsbook at 19/10.

Recommended Bet
Back Antoine Greizmann To Score (anytime) @ 19/10