Manchester City to get Champions League campaign back on track

Champions League Group F
BT Sport 3, 5.55pm Tuesday

Manchester City have put themselves in a difficult position in their Champions League group campaign after losing to Lyon but Pep Guardiola's side should get back on track at Hoffenheim.

City were made to pay for a sloppy first half two weeks ago, something we barely saw from the Premier League winners last season, and it's possible they were unsettled by Guardiola's touchline suspension.

Guardiola may also have loved the opportunity to pick his team again with Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane on the bench, but either way City are under the pump so even with Sunday's trip to Liverpool on the horizon they need to go strong in Germany.

And if City's intensity is spot on they have the potential to run out comfortable winners against opponents ravaged by injuries at the heart of their defence.

This is also at a ground which is far from a hotbed of football. The atmosphere is not traditionally difficult to deal with and there are nerves in the home ranks due to the long list of absentees.

Hoffenheim, in their Champions League group-stage debut season, are missing five centre-backs, which is far from ideal considering City have scored ten times in three matches since their Lyon setback.

Home boss Julian Nagelsmann is noted for being a clever coach capable of coming up with different tactical schemes, although he stuck with his 3-4-1-2 formation on Saturday for a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Leipzig.

Hoffenheim have conceded 15 shots on target in their last two matches and of those sidelined, captain Kevin Vogt will probably be missed most.

City need to be wary of Hoffenheim's counter attacks, which they launched brilliantly in their 2-2 draw away to Shakhtar on matchday one, while Brazilian striker Joelinton is impressing this season and World Cup finalist Andrej Kramaric has returned to full fitness.

However, Hoffenheim have not kept a clean sheet this term and City can make their class count in the final third.

Recommendation
Man City -1.5 on Asian handicap
1pt 99-100 bet365

Bet on this match at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Hoffenheim
Centre-backs Kasim Adams, Kevin Vogt, Benjamin Hubner, Havard Nordtveit and Ermin Bicakcic are all out. Nadiem Amiri is doubtful.

Man City
Benjamin Mendy, Kevin De Bruyne, Eliaquim Mangala, Fabian Delph and Claudio Bravo are ruled out.

Key stat
Both teams have scored in all eight of Hoffenheim's matches in all competitions this season.

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