Manchester City — AEK: can Maresca’s team return to winning ways?
On October 20, Manchester City and AEK will meet at the Etihad in the third round of the Champions League league phase. The English side are clear favourites, but after their setback in the previous round, they need not only to win but also to show that their defensive problems are not becoming a systemic issue. The visitors, meanwhile, will travel to Manchester hoping to pick up points and make life difficult for one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs.
Manchester City: attacking power is there, but the defence raises questions
Enzo Maresca’s team go into the match after a painful 4-2 defeat to PSG. The Parisians managed to score four goals, while City were unable to rescue the situation even on home turf. For a team accustomed to controlling the flow of matches, the result was an unwelcome warning sign.
That said, it would be unwise to draw far-reaching conclusions from one game. On October 11, Manchester City comfortably beat Liverpool 3-0 in the English top flight. That result was a reminder of just how dangerous the Citizens can be when they exploit space effectively and move the ball quickly into the final third.
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The hosts’ main task will be to seize the initiative from the opening minutes and prevent AEK from believing in their chances. Erling Haaland remains the key figure up front: his movement, physical power and finishing ability can cause problems for virtually any defence. Phil Foden and the other attacking players can add variety if the opposition focus on containing the Norwegian.
At the same time, City must not forget about balance. After conceding four goals against PSG, the team will surely want to be more disciplined without the ball, especially when possession is lost.
AEK: the Greek club can bite back
AEK also endured a disappointing previous European outing, losing 3-1 to Shakhtar Donetsk on October 14. The Greek side now face an even tougher test — an away trip to a stadium where the hosts traditionally look to dictate the terms.
However, AEK look far more convincing in the domestic championship. On October 10, the team defeated OFI 3-0. That result suggests the visitors will not come to Manchester simply to sit deep in defence, but will try to make the most of their opportunities going forward.
Of course, an open game against City could lead to serious problems. Therefore, the most logical approach for AEK would be a compact defence, a crowded midfield and quick counterattacks. If they can withstand the initial pressure, the Greek club may have opportunities to exploit the spaces left behind.
A great deal in this match will depend on how quickly Manchester City open the scoring. An early goal could turn the game into one-way pressure from the hosts, while a prolonged goalless spell would boost AEK’s confidence and make the favourites nervous.
But the difference in class, home advantage and the quality of the attacking players all point to the English side. It will be difficult for the visitors to maintain their concentration throughout the match against such constant pressure.
Even so, given City’s recent defensive problems, an AEK goal should not be completely ruled out.
The Citizens should have enough opportunities to secure the desired result, but the Greek club are quite capable of capitalising on individual mistakes from their opponents.
My prediction: over 3.5 total goals.
