Champion show of power

Man City will face Red Star Belgrade in the first round of the group stage of the 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League. With the difference in class between the two teams, victory is unlikely to slip away from the defending champions.

After winning the treble last season, Man City entered the new season with high spirits. They are the only team to win all 5 first matches in the Premier League. Man City players are not complacent no matter who they face. Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Bernardo Silva still maintain good form.

Man City's playing style is not affected much despite the absence of some key players in the early stages of the season such as John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne. Coach Guardiola has alternative options to fit into the already complete system.

Victory is hard to escape from Man City's hands in the opening match of the UEFA Champions League 2023/2024 group stage.

Man City are on a six-game winning streak, including five in the Premier League. They have also turned the Etihad Stadium into an impregnable fortress. Since December 2021, Man City are unbeaten in 13 home games (winning 12) in the Champions League.

Man City's first opponent in the Champions League this season is Red Star Belgrade - a famous team from Serbia. They were once a force in European football and won the C1 Cup in 1991. However, that is a story of the past. At present, Red Star Belgrade is difficult to compare with the class of Man City.

Heading into their Champions League opener, they have lost two of their last three league games. Their domestic form is poor, and Red Star Belgrade are away at the Etihad. Clearly, they don’t have much chance of picking up points on this trip.

Expected lineup Man City vs Red Star Belgrade

Man City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Ake; Nunes, Rodri; Foden, Silva, Alvarez; Haaland.

Red Star Belgrade: Glazer; Nedeljkovic, Spajic, Dragovic, Rodic; Stamenic; Lucic, Kangwa, Ivanic, Olayinka; Ndiaye

Prediction: Man City 4-0 Red Star Belgrade

Van Hai

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