Manchester City is set to face Slovan Bratislava in their second Champions League match of the 2024-25 season. The game is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at the National Football Stadium in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The match will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1, and subscribers can also watch it via a live stream on the Discovery+ app.
Team News
Manchester City will be without several key players. Rodri will not play again this season due to a serious knee injury, while Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake are also out for the foreseeable future. Kevin De Bruyne is hopeful to return after the international break. Despite a recent ankle knock, Erling Haaland has trained normally and is expected to be fit for the match.
Slovan Bratislava, meanwhile, is expected to field their usual starting eleven, having not made many rotations over the weekend.
Predicted Lineups
For Manchester City, the predicted lineup includes Ederson or Stefan Ortega in goal, with a defensive line of Kyle Walker, Rben Dias, John Stones or Manuel Akanji, and Rico Lewis or Joko Gvardiol. In midfield, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovai are likely to feature, supported by Phil Foden, James McAtee, and Savinho on the wings. Erling Haaland is set to lead the attack.
Slovan Bratislava's lineup is expected to include Takac in goal, with a defense of Blackman, Kashia, Wimmer, and Medvedev. The midfield could consist of Kucka, Ignatenko, and Tolic, while Barseghyan, Strelec, and Weiss are likely to be in the forward positions.
Match Prediction
Given the significant difference in team strength, Manchester City is heavily favored to win. Slovan Bratislava suffered a 5-1 defeat to Celtic in their Champions League debut, which further underscores the likelihood of a City victory. Predictions suggest a comfortable win for Manchester City, with scores such as 4-0 or 5-0 being mentioned.
The odds reflect this prediction, with Manchester City to win at 1/20, a draw at 11/1, and Slovan Bratislava to win at 30/1.
