Manchester City 3-2 Bayern Munich: Aguero stars again

Sergio Aguero was brilliant yet again for Man City last night

Sergio Aguero's hat trick proved decisive as Manchester City gave their qualification hopes a boost with a 3-2 win over Bayern Munich.

After the disaster here against CSKA Moscow a few weeks ago it looked as if Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City side were heading for the Champions League exit door as they hosted the mighty Bayern Munich at the Etihad.

The German champions arrived with qualification, and the group, already in the bag but Pep Guardiola's side didn't come to Manchester to roll over.

Bayern made a superb start to the game with long spells of controlled possession and Elaquim Mangala's superb block to deny Rafinha in the 18th minute proved crucial. Within seconds the hosts were up the other end of the field with Sergio Aguero preparing to take a penalty kick.

A hopeful punt over the top left Aguero in a foot race with Medhi Benatia and as they entered the penalty area the Egyptian flung himself towards the ball, but found only the ankles of the Argentine instead. A straight red card for Benatia and Aguero dusted himself down to beat Manuel Neuer from the spot and give his side a 20th minute lead.

It looked then as if the hosts would be able to hit on the counter attack at will but it didn't go to plan in the next hour at the Etihad. Despite their numerical disadvantage the visitors were able to keep hold of the ball and edge their way up the field, eventually to deadly effect.

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The world appeared to have caved in on Manchester City in five disastrous minutes at the end of the first half as Bayern struck twice to send a dagger to the home fans' hearts.

First, Robert Lewandowski was felled by Mangala on the edge of the area and Xabi Alonso stepped up to place a low free kick around the base of the wall and into the bottom corner, with Joe Hart rooted to the spot. With five minutes of the half to go it was vital that City didn't concede again, but they would do just that.

Jerome Boateng's floated cross was met by Lewandowski, as he rose above Bacary Sagna, to loop a header over the onrushing Joe Hart and into the back of the net. Silence around the Etihad with City's Champions League dreams in tatters and it didn't get much better for much of a fractious second half in which Bayern again dominated possession.

However, some players are special and Sergio Aguero is one such player as he proved in a dramatic final five minutes on a frosty night in Manchester. On 85 minutes Alonso turned his back and clipped a sloppy pass straight into Stevan Jovetic's path and Aguero rushed onto the loose ball, darted between two defenders and clipped a clever left footed finish beyond Neuer.

The draw was all City really needed, with victory in Rome still a must, whether they won here or not, but momentum is a game-changer and everyone inside the Etihad knew it. So when Boateng dallied in possession just outside his own area and Aguero stole in to take the ball off him the crowd rose as one to see what happened next. Aguero did not let them down as the Argentine striker slotted coolly beyond Neuer once again to complete his hat trick and another memorable comeback against Bayern.

City still need to go to Rome and win, and hope CSKA Moscow don't beat Bayern in Munich to advance to the knockout stage. However, they've given their season a major shot in the arm tonight and they go to Rome knowing exactly what they need to do. Can they finish the job?

Challenging times in store for Villa and Saints

Paul Lambert's side nearly got all three points last night

Does the 1-1 draw between Aston Villa and Southampton represent a change in fortunes for both clubs heading into a crucial period?

Monday's game itself was instantly forgettable, with a dearth of genuine quality in the attacking third from both sides on the night - they managed just five shots on goals between them.

The result is a welcome one for Lambert and his Villa squad but they remain without a win since September. The natives gave their verdict on Villa at the turnstiles; this was Villa Park's lowest attendance at a Premier League game in 15 seasons.

Goals are still the issue for Villa. They lack the creativity to carve out decent chances against Premier League opposition and even if they could, they don't have a potent scorer to put the ball in the net.

A huge stroke of fortune came last night when the usually reliable Saints rearguard gifted them an opening goal courtesy of Fraser Forster's error in judgement when deciding to come for a long punt down field from Ciaran Clark, only to be caught out by Gabby Agbonlahor.

Agbonlahor's pace is an asset but he is unlikely to start contributing regularly - he hasn't hit double figures in any of the last four seasons.

Alongside him, Andreas Weimann operates on a ratio of one goal for every five Premier League appearances.

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Their next four games are against sides around about them in the table - beginning with a trip to resurgent Burnley on Saturday.

The Clarets, along with Palace, Leicester and West Brom, will fancy their chances against this toothless Villa side.

Southampton gave a start to 12million summer signing Shane Long on Monday - a figure that doubles Paul Lambert's entire summer outlay. This Villa squad desperately needs reinforcing.

In contrast to Lambert's situation, opposite number Ronald Koeman is enjoying a carefree start to his career in England.

Southampton have excelled this season and the defensive lapse that gifted Villa the lead was most unlike them.

Koeman said in the aftermath that his team lacked the patience required to break down Villa.

More likely was that they were missing any kind of guile on this occasion. For the first time, Saints seemed to be one dimensional.

Graziano Pelle struggled to make any impact on the game and has now failed to score in his last four Premier League outings. The question now is whether teams are alert to the threat posed by second-placed Southampton?

Dusan Tadic was another Saints player generally operating under the radar in Monday's clash, with full-backs Ryan Bertrand and Nathaniel Clyne required to get the visitors out of jail.

Koeman referred to this Sunday's clash with champions Manchester City as a pleasure to look forward to but it looks like his fledgling side are set for a really testing period.

After City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton and leaders Chelsea lie in wait before the year ends.

The quirks of the fixture list mean they will face the Gunners at St Marys before a trip to Old Trafford to begin 2015.

Koeman's star has been on an upward trajectory since he arrived in England this summer but the former Feyenoord boss is now staring at the toughest run of fixtures in his managerial career.

In the midst of it all, the Capital One Cup quarter final against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in mid-December could represent a key momentum keeper in Southampton's season.

The Villa Park stalemate was a fair outcome for both of these sides.

For Aston Villa, their troublesome season could become a nightmare if they fail to ignite in the forthcoming games. Southampton are stepping into the unknown as they go from the hunter to the hunted in a series of heavyweight clashes.

Why more English players should play abroad

Michael Owen spent time overseas at Real Madrid

There is a distinct lack of English players which make the bold step to go and play abroad to further their career. Alex Johnson ponders why this is.

Those few who do head to the continent tend to do so when they are in their prime, and most often join Europe's elite clubs for big fees. However, even for those at the top of their profession it does not always go as planned. For every David Beckham, who enjoyed a successful stint at Real Madrid and also played for the European giants AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, unfortunately there is a Michael Owen or Jonathan Woodgate.

The sad truth is that not many English players head abroad and would prefer to stay in the comfort zone of the Premier League. Out of the England squad that woefully under-performed at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, only Fraser Forster did not play in England - and you would hardly class Scotland as a far-flung foreign destination. However, even the former Celtic stopper has now arrived in the Premier League after joining Southampton.

More English players really should pluck up the courage to move abroad to play as it gives them a fantastic opportunity to develop. For starters, they can learn their trade in a country where the pressure maybe is not on them as much as it would be in England.

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The Premier League is one of the fastest-paced leagues in Europe, and that could be hampering young English players. Only the cream of the crop will prosper straight away, while too many players either don't get a chance or disappear quickly.

Perhaps it would be better for them to go abroad and develop in leagues where you get more time on the ball. This would help them become more comfortable with the ball at their feet and ultimately be a big boost to their career. Spending their formative years in a league where it is also not so physically demanding and an all-round more relaxed atmosphere can be a boost to a young player's development.

It also gives younger players the opportunity to learn about other cultures and to grow outside of the Premier League, which is overstocked with overseas players stifling the chances of young English talent. At a time where the top Premier League clubs are stock-piling talent - not just from England, but from across the globe - the opportunities are becoming smaller and smaller for young home-grown players. These players could learn some great life lessons by looking to the continent, or further afield, for their development.

The Premier League is a bit of a closed environment and a world of its own. As a result too many players are blinkered on getting into the first team here, rather than opening their mind to the possibilities of spending a year or two in Spain, Germany or Holland. True the financial rewards might not be so big abroad, but the footballing lessons they could learn will be beneficial in the long-term. First-team experience, different coaching styles and a broadening of horizons from the continent has to be better than warming the bench or a succession of short-term loans.

While the Premier League seems to want to push through the idea of 'B' teams in the lower leagues, surely the clubs should actively encourage their younger generation to possibly spend a year or two abroad. Give these players the opportunity to play in Europe and a chance to seize the opportunity to impress - this form of finishing school could ultimately help put the England national team in a stronger position in the coming years.

Arsenal v Dortmund: Spoils to be shared in North London

Can Arsene turn things around?

It's been a disappointing season for both Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund to date and Paul Robinson is taking them both to fail to win when they clash a the Emirates on Wednesday...

Arsenal v Dortmund
Wednesday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 1

The pressure is mounting on Arsene Wenger as another defeat to one of their main rivals at the weekend saw them drop to eighth in the Premier League. Defensive concerns have seemingly never been addressed and that has led to the Frenchman having to field Nacho Monreal at centre half.

The Gunners may still look good going forward, but they are too gung-ho, typified by the collapse in their last Champions League game against Anderlecht. A win would have made this match a battle for top spot in Group D, but after blowing a 3-0 lead, The North Londoners still need potentially two points to qualify, and their chances of finishing first all but over.

Things haven't been much better for Dortmund as while they have won four from four in this competition, The Germans are floundering in 16th position in the Bundesliga. To make matters worse, star man, Marco Reus picked up an injury in Saturday's draw at Paderborn that has ruled him out until 2015.

That is a huge blow for Jurgen Klopp and without the services of Robert Lewandowski, BVB are going to struggle for goals. Ciro Immobile has only netted half a dozen in all competitions so far this term and while they have racked up 13 in four Champions League games to date, I can't see them getting too many at The Emirates.

Match Odds
Arsenal 2.56/4 Dortmund 3.1511/5 The Draw 3.55/2

With both teams low on confidence, I quite like the draw at the prices. That would secure top spot for the visitors and would probably be good enough to see Arsenal through in the end. 

A defeat would be damaging for the pair of them as far as player confidence and fan morale goes, so I wouldn't be too surprised if we don't see end to end action if the game is level going into the final stages.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals
Over 2.5 Goals 1.738/11 Under 2.5 Goals 2.3411/8

The clear favourite is over 2.5 goals and nearly all the stats are pointing that way. I have my reservations though and would rather back unders than overs at the prices. That's if I were forced to have a bet though and I think there is better value elsewhere.

Correct Score        

Given all I've said above, it will come as no surprise that I quite like the look of 1-1 in this market. It's currently trading at around the 8.07/1 market and that seems a point or two big to me. 

Dortmund have won just three of their last eight on the road and Arsenal have won only two of eight at home. Four of those were score draws for The Gunners and they've kept just one clean sheet at The Emirates since August.

Cash Out   

The best cash out opportunity could lie in the Half Time/Full Time market as Draw/Draw is available to back at 6.411/2. There shouldn't be much between these two sides so if we can get them in level at the break, that 6.411/2 should be trading a lot shorter, giving us the option to lock in a profit in case things go awry in the second half.

Recommended Bets
Back The Draw @ 3.55/2 (1pt)
Back a 1-1 Correct Score @ 8.07/1 (1pt)

Best Cash Out
Back Draw/Draw in the Half Time/Full Time Market @ 6.411/2

Champions League on Betfair: Aguero hat-trick brings 299/1 City back from the brink

Sergio Aguero was the star of the show at the Etihad Stadium

After being matched at 300.0299/1 to win the Champions League when trailing Bayern Munich, Manchester City's hopes of qualification remain intact after some late drama at the Etihad. Mike Norman has all the In-Play details...

Manchester City put their Champions League group stage qualification hopes largely in their own hands on Tuesday night with a thoroughly entertaining 3-2 win over Bayern Munich, thanks to a superb hat-trick from Sergio Aguero.

The Citizens received a boost before a ball was even kicked when CSKA Moscow and Roma played out a 1-1 draw in the early kick-off, ensuring that a win for Manuel Pellegrini's men would take them level on points with their Group E rivals.

And the home side couldn't have wished for a better start with the German outfit being reduced to 10 men inside 20 minutes after Medhi Benatia brought down Aguero inside the box. The defender received his marching orders and Aguero - matched at 8.07/1 in the First Goalscorer market - picked himself up to tuck away the penalty.

Two goals in quick succession from the away side gave Pep Guardiola's men an unlikely 1-2 interval lead, a scoreline that was matched at the huge price of 540.0539/1 for small amounts in the Half Time Score market, and one that left City with a mountain to climb.

But just as it looked like the German outfit would see out the victory a few errors crept into their game and City took full advantage thanks to two excellent finishes from Aguero.

The home side were matched at 55.054/1 to win the game, the same price as the 3-2 Correct Score, while a hat-trick to be scored (by anyone) was matched at 23.022/1.

The result means that City will qualify for the next round of the Champions League if Bayern Munich beat CSKA at home in Match Day 6 and Pellegrini's men either win away to Roma or secure a high-scoring draw.

In tonight's other game featuring an English side Chelsea secured their path through to the knock-out stages with a thumping 0-5 win over Schalke in Germany, a scoreline that was matched at 170.0169/1 in the Correct Score market.

John Terry - matched at 38.037/1 to score first - headed the Blues in front as early as the second minute before goals from Willian, a Schalke OG, Didier Drogba, and Ramires secured the simple victory. Chelsea were matched at a high of 1.9110/11 to win the game.

After tonight's results Bayern Munich remain the 4.3100/30 favourites to win the Champions League, just ahead of Reald Madrid, 4.57/2, Barcelona, 7.06/1, and Chelsea, 7.26/1.

Manchester City - who have been matched at a high of 300.0299/1 - are available to back at 30.029/1.

Opta Big Match Stats: Stay of execution for Man City

Man City took just two points from their first four games

These Opta nuggets put a sock in the Fat Lady's gob before she sings of Man City's Champions League exit...

Man City v Bayern Munich
Tuesday, 19:45
Live on ITV

Match Odds: Man City 3.55/2, Bayern Munich 2.166/5, The Draw 3.8514/5

Man City are winless in their last six games in Europe; they have never been winless for more than six

Even three points against Bayern Munich might ultimately prove fruitless as Man City leave it late to try to secure Champions League progression, but Manuel Pellegrini's men will maximise their chances of an unlikely Group E escape act with victory over the 2012/13 winners.

FC Hollywood may be without defeat in 18 competitive outings and arrive at the Etihad on the back of five successive wins, but they were travelling even smoother when Man City got the better of them at the Allianz Arena last term.

In total 24 teams had tried and failed to topple Pep Guardiola's men, the latter 11 losing, before the Citizens claimed the spoils in Bavaria. The same post-qualification carelessness from Die Roten should come to the hosts' aid again.

Recommended Bet: Back Man City to win @ 3.55/2

Man City haven't kept a clean sheet in 11 Champions League ties (the longest streak in their history)

Calamitous defending allowed Wilfried Bony to fire Swansea into the lead at the Etihad Stadium in Man City's last game and it's tough to envisage their sieve-like rearguard being able to stymie an attack as ferocious as the Bundesliga champions'.

Bayern have only failed to find the net twice since their 2-0 loss to Dortmund in the German equivalent of the Community Shield and racked up 11 goals in their opening four outings in this competition. Man City have leaked six so far, two thirds of these coming in their previous pair of matches against Group E's weakest outfit (in theory) CSKA Moscow.

For those who remain unconvinced, a further segment of Opta insight dispels any doubt as to whether Bayern will bag or not: the Citizens have not kept a clean sheet in any of their nine Champions League home games since the start of 2012/13.

Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score @ 1.674/6

Jerome Boateng's last-minute goal gave Bayern Munich a 1-0 win against Man City on matchday one

A serial bagger the World Cup winner is not, but an ex-employee coming back to haunt his former club is one of football's most threadbare clichs. The man Kevin-Prince refers to as 'ar kid' has found the net four times in his Bayern career, with his 90th-minute effort to deny Man City in September the latest.

However, the blue-clad club have developed a nasty habit this term of conceding goals to defenders they've paid wages to. In addition to Boateng, Pablo Zabaleta, Eliaquim Mangala and, most recently, Martin Demichelis are all rearguard marshals associated with Man City to have scored against them in 2014/15, so backing the Bayern stopper to notch again is worth the small stake required at 17.5n/a.

Recommended Bet: Back Jerome Boateng to score @ 17.5n/a

Premier League: Why Aston Villa needn't fear the drop

Gabriel Agbonlahor has scored three of Aston Villa's ten goals

Aston Villa are two points off the relegation zone, but they've escaped from worse positions in the past...

A perceived aversion to winning football matches is no reason at all to back Aston Villa for the drop this season, with the west midlanders rating a far better survival bet despite their current foul form.

Having failed to prevail in any of their previous eight outings, the Villans have slipped to 4.1n/a to be relegated from the Premier League for the first time, though the 4.216/5 lay price appears a shrewder wager.

Pre-Christmas dreariness is nothing new for fans of the claret-clad club, who are forging a niche for themselves in the art of deception. Masquerading as an outfit grotesquely unfit to grace the nation's top flight for the majority of the months running up to the festive season, before a New Year fortune reversal allows them off the chopping block, head intact, is one of their favourite tricks.

Villa's opening 12 games have yielded just 12 points and a frankly hilarious six goals, but this is nothing supporters haven't experienced before across Paul Lambert's regime. Last term, they were just three points better off, while they hadn't yet hit double figures by this stage in 2012/13.

Despite these toils in the early exchanges, both seasons resulted in survival by a comfortable enough five-point deficit.

The evil beings operating the fixture generator have done the Villans few favours in recent weeks, which is arguably the chief factor behind their alarming shortage of points.

Each of their previous nine foes besides QPR either finished in last season's top six, or are in there this time around. Such an intense period of daunting challenges was never likely to bring about much in a points capacity for a team forecast to be amongst those in the relegation mix this season.

What bodes well for Villa is that recent results insinuate they're over the worst of their bad spell.

Two points plundered against West Ham and Southampton - two of the more impressive outfits in the division this season, who were both in great form - are plaudit-worthy, while had Christian Benteke not been dismissed against Tottenham they could've had another, if not three prior to that.

Further positivity comes in the shape of their next nine fixtures too, with Man United at home the only opponent they'd expect to struggle against, or indeed who finished in the top half in 2013/14.

Leicester, Sunderland and Crystal Palace are all due at Villa Park between now and New Year's Day, presenting Villa with the opportunity to stockpile some points in the coming months.