The Champions League continues with some early kick-off on Tuesday as Manchester City travel to Hoffenheim in Germany for the second round of games in Group F.
If you were asked who was going to be top and bottom of the group following match day one, it would have been Manchester City at the top and Lyon at the bottom. However, it is Pep Guardiola’s team who are propping up the rest as it stands and they cannot afford another defeat.
A win for Hoffenheim would see them move on to 4 points and clear of their opponents in the table .
Manchester City recorded a comfortable home win in the Premier League on the weekend, defeating Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0. They sit top of the Premier League having remained undefeated after seven matches, only dropping points in a draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
However, the same cannot be said for the Champions League and Manchester City suffered a big shock when they fell to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of the Lyon in their opening game of Group F. It was a poor performance from Guardiola’s team and if they do not raise their level in this match, they could be in more trouble.
Trends show Manchester City have lost each of their last four Champions League games and tasted defeat away to Shakhtar Donetsk and Liverpool last season.
Hoffenheim have had a tough start to the season in Germany and went down 2-1 at home to Leipzig on the weekend. Having picked up a good 3-1 win at Hannover in mid-week, it was a disappointing result and Hoffenheim find themselves in the bottom half of the Bundesliga, with 7 points from six games.
They started their Champions League campaign with a good 2-2 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk. The Germans twice took the lead in the game but conceded an equaliser with just 9 minutes left in the game.
This will be Hoffenheim’s first home Champions League group stage game in their history, so expect a great atmosphere at the Rhein Neckar Arena. The only other Champions League game they have played at home was in the playoffs last season and Hoffenheim lost 2-1 to Liverpool.
Looking ahead to the team news and Hoffenheim could be without midfielders Nadiem Amiri and Dennis Geiger. The hosts also have doubts over the fitness of defender Benjamin Hubner, who suffered a concussion.
Manchester City are still without Benjamin Mendy, Kevin De Bruyne, Claudio Bravo and Eqliaquim Mangala. Sergio Aguero was withdrawn early in the second half on the weekend and should start up-front.
The Hoffenheim fans will be looking forward to this game but their players will find it tough. Manchester City have the firepower to hurt them whenever they break and although the hosts may score, Manchester have enough to win the match.