Manchester City begin life as defending Champions League title-winners for the first time in club history as they welcome Red Star Belgrade to the Etihad on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola led the Premier League side to the glorious treble last season, and the European championship was the most coveted of the three by far. Now, he looks to lead Man City to back-to-back European crowns, something not accomplished by a club not named Real Madrid since AC Milan in 1989 and 1990.
They look good for it, as they remain the only perfect side in Premier League play through the season's first five games, yet domestic success has not always translated to European stage for Man City in recent years.
City start the 2023/24 tournament against Serbian club Red Star Belgrade, also known as Crvena Zvezda, who have suffered two early defeats in domestic play through their first seven games, including a road defeat to 10-man Cukaricki over the weekend which provides a foreboding sense heading into this brutal road trip.
MORE: Watch this Champions League match in the United States on Paramount+
Man City vs Red Star match facts
- Date: Tuesday, September 19
- Kickoff Time: 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST / 5 a.m. AEST (Wed, Sep. 20)
- Location: Etihad Stadium (Manchester, England)
- Official: Joao Pinheiro (POR)
- Last meeting: None (First meeting)
Man City vs Red Star prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Man City (-1600)
- Score prediction: Man City 3-0 Red Star Belgrade
In such a lopsided European affair, there's absolutely no value on the moneyline as Manchester City are expected to run away as massive home winners in their start to this season's Champions League play.
The odds are such that City are considered 3.5 goal favorites on the handicap, and the goals total is bumped way up to 4.5. Red Star aren't thought to be even good for a goal in this match, with the odds swung decidedly towards both teams not to score.
| Man City win | Draw | Red Star win | Both teams to score Y / N | Over / Under 4.5 goals | MCI -3.5 | CRV +3.5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) | -1600 | +1450 | +3300 | +130 / -190 | +120 / -165 | +120 | -165 |
Man City vs. Red Star best bet
- Pick: Jeremy Doku to score or assist
- Odds: -180 (FanDuel)
The goal scorer odds are utterly outlandish thanks to the expectation that Man City will put a bunch past their opponents, but these are still somewhat palatable odds for a player in fine form.
With Kevin de Bruyne out injured, Jeremy Doku has been sensational in the early stages of his Man City career, arriving from Stade Rennais and exploding to life at the Etihad. He picked up his first goal for the club against West Ham, and provided three key passes in that match as well, and looks a real star in the attacking third.
While his attacking numbers were bright, his defensive contributions were also of note, which will go a long way in keeping him in the lineup long-term as Pep Guardiola will no doubt appreciate his ability to track back.
Man City vs. Red Star prop bet
- Pick: Man City over 4.5 goals
- Odds: +180 (BetMGM)
Man City have been known to struggle against smaller European clubs while on the road, but at home, they've been known to run up the score.
Last season, Man City blasted FC Copenhagen 5-0 at home, and then obliterated RB Leipzig to the tune of 7-0 in the knockout round. The year before that, they put six past RB Leipzig and five past both Club Brugge and Sporting CP at the Etihad, and in 2019 walloped Atalanta 5-1 at home.
You can get over 3.5 goals at -120, but if we're going for the blowout, we might as well go for it guns blazing.
Man City vs Red Star live stream, TV channel
In the United States, this Champions League match is shown exclusively in English on CBS streaming service Paramount+.
In Canada, the match is exclusively available via DAZN.
| TV channel | Streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| USA | — | Paramount+ |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
MORE: Watch Premier League matches live with Fubo in USA
