Both Bayern Munich and Manchester City have made wonderful starts to their seasons domestically and the clash in Germany on Tuesday is the highlight in the Champions League.
Bayern, beaten in the Bundesliga on the opening weekend, have won nine consecutive matches in all competitions since, remarkably without conceding a goal, and the match against their big-spending opponents should be one to savour.
Tuesday’s hosts were fairly quiet in the transfer market during the summer but that has not stopped them making their best start to a season for many a year and Bayern began their Champions League campaign in style, too, with an impressive 2-0 win at Villarreal.
This section is easily the most competitive in Europe’s premier club competition but goals from Toni Kroos and Rafinha gave Jupp Heynecks maximum points and the Germans are a side to be feared.
With May’s final taking place in Bayern’s Allianz Arena motivation to succeed this year, in particular, is heightened but City present a real threat on Tuesday and Roberto Mancini has assembled a squad bursting with talent.
The off-season acquisitions of Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri appear to have completed the Italian manager’s most recent recruitment drive and both were excellent additions.
Aguero, with eight goals in six Premier League matches already, in particular, has been a revelation but City were frustrated by Napoli at Eastlands when held to a 1-1 draw in their first ever Champions League match and might find Bayern just too good in midweek.
While the hosts have been well-backed in recent days, having been available at evens with Ladbrokes, the 1.91 on offer in a place is still decent value and I expect Bayern to impress.
Franck Ribery is back to somewhere near his best and both he and Thomas Muller support a forward line that has been prolific in the opening weeks of the new season.
2pts Back Bayern Munich (vs. Man City) @ 1.91 (various)