The Champions League group stage draw was sort to holders Manchester Metropolis, they usually start their marketing campaign with what seems a house banker in opposition to 1991 European Cup winners Crimson Star Belgrade.
Some bookmakers worth the Serbian workforce at 33-1 and even greater, longer odds than just about each Premier League opponent can be on the Etihad (with the potential exception of Luton City). That provides you some concept of the duty going through Crimson Star tonight, with Metropolis to face RB Leipzig and Younger Boys later within the group.
Pep Guardiola’s means to rotate is hampered by some damage issues, with John Stones, Jack Grealish and Mateo Kovacic nonetheless unavailable. Grealish’s absence should imply one other begin for Jeremy Doku, who capped a powerful efficiency at West Ham with a aim. The Belgian winger might show to be a sneaky-good buy, for a Metropolis squad who’ve lacked flyers on the surface because the departures of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and this 12 months Riyad Mahrez. Guardiola, on the touchline once more after present process a again operation in Barcelona, might select to present back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega a begin instead of Ederson. Metropolis face Nottingham Forest within the Premier League on Saturday.
What will we learn about Crimson Star, other than the actual fact Billy Bragg’s uncle as soon as performed for them? Properly, it’s their first look within the group levels since 2019-20, once they discovered themselves in a bunch with Bayern Munich and Tottenham. Spurs beat them 9-0 throughout the 2 video games. The season earlier than, Crimson Star discovered themselves in a bunch with PSG, Liverpool and Napoli and unsurprisingly completed backside, however did beat Jurgen Klopp’s workforce 2-0 in Belgrade. Skilled defender Aleksandar Dragovic will probably be one of many acquainted names for watchers of European competitors, having performed for Bayer Leverkusen, Dynamo Kyiv and Basel, and spent a season at Leicester Metropolis. Supervisor Barak Bakhar is in his first season having come from Maccabi Haifa.
Full workforce information on the best way shortly.
