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Juventus meets Man City this weekend for the 7th time in history as they duke it out in the Champions League. Man City has suffered a stretch of misfortune not many would wish on their worst enemy. Only one victory has relieved the pain of 8 winless games dating back to October. Can Man City exorcise their demons in Turin on Wednesday? Continue reading to access expert UCL picks and explore stats for Man City and Juventus betting in 2024.
- UEFA Champions League
- League phase
- Juventus FC vs Manchester City FC
- Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 3 pm EST
- Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy
- Paramount+
UCL Picks: Who do Sportsbooks Favor?
Juventus are the underdogs despite their home status in this match and City’s poor run of form. Juve are lined at (+305). The visitors are odds-on favorites at (-102), while a draw pays out at (+255). A draw would represent Juventus’ 5th such result in a row.
| Champions League |  |  |  |
| Juventus | +305 | +285 | +290 |
| Man City | -102 | -105 | -105 |
| Draw | +253 | +250 | +255 |
Want to better understand the 3-way moneyline (1X2) market? See our soccer betting tips and learn about Champions League betting in 2025.
Juventus Betting: New Manager, Same Results
Thiago Motta’s introduction at Juventus was a hopeful one. The Brazilian-Italian former player outperformed expectations at Bologna, and his tactics are well-regarded. In August, I wrote of the pros and cons of “Motta-ball.”
“My biggest concern with “Mottaball” arriving at Juventus is on the final touch, though. While having a capable midfield is all well and good, scoring is an altogether different matter. What I envision is Weston McKennie thriving in a midfield and setting up plenty of options for Vlahovic.
[… But] because Motta aims to crowd the midfield, there are few opportunities to overload in the final third. That will leave Juve fans praying Vlahovic finishes when he gets opportunities. I could see that going very poorly.”
So far, my UCL picks prediction has rang true. With 27 points through 15 matches, it is Juve’s second-worst Serie A start in 14 years. The obvious counterpoint is that they have not lost a game, but titles are won on points not by avoiding defeat. Just six victories to go along with 9 draws is not a pace built for a Scudetto.
Is This the End of the Manchester City Dynasty?
What a whirlwind of the past six weeks it has been for Manchester City. A poor run of form the likes of which have never before been witnessed under a Pep Guardiola-led side have dashed title hopes immensely. Down to 4th on the table with just one league win since October 26, many are whispering doomsday has finally arrived in Manchester. But the club must carry on, especially in the face of a gauntlet stretch of matches.
Indeed, City face Juventus this midweek in the Champions League ahead of the Manchester derby this weekend. Then it’s off to Birmingham for their annual date with Aston Villa, who have looked weaker than last season but still a strong threat for European qualification come May. Kevin de Bruyne’s return to the locker room presents a good omen after his long absence due to injury. Meanwhile, Phil Foden should slot back into his usual place in the lineup after a bout of bronchitis last weekend.
Can those additions bring Man City back to their former glory? I believe there is still a Rodri-sized gap in the defensive midfield that owes tending to. Guardiola’s lapdog Gundogan has struggled to fill Rodri’s shoes, clearly a step behind the opposition. Manchester City must look for alternatives in this winter transfer window if they are to believe they can still contend for a title.
The Cityzens have conceded multiple goals to every club besides Nottingham Forest during this horrendous run. 8 total goals in their last 4 matches across all competitions indicates their offense is still producing, despite Foden, Erling Haaland, and Jack Grealish’s struggles. If they cannot contain Juventus, who have scored just 7 goals in UCL, more veracious indictments can be made regarding Man City’s defensive abilities.
UCL Picks: Man City and Juventus Betting Prediction
Neither club involved in this match is being lauded by pundits at the moment. Both Juventus and Manchester City are sitting outside the top 3 of their respective league tables. Additionally, both clubs sit at 8 points in the Champions League through the first 5 matches of the league phase.
In their last 6 home matches in the UEFA Champions League, Juve have lost 4 times. That equals their mark of their previous 40 home matches. But a trend favors them in this fixture: the Old Lady is unbeaten against Man City in their previous 5 meetings. A loss in their first clash in 1976 marks the lone blemish in their history with Manchester City.
While few will be so daring as to wager their hard-earned money on a side as down on their luck as Manchester City, I believe they are the side in this match. Juve have looked incapable of stringing together long possessions on the offensive end and are clearly on the outside looking into the Serie A title race. While City have looked poor, they have also had some tough away assignments and shown glimpses of dominance. A 3-0 victory over 4th-placed Nottingham Forest is especially reassuring.
On Bovada, you can currently get a discount on Man City by backing them in the Asian Handicap market rather than their straight moneyline. At (-102), the odds are better and the required outcome is the exact same. Trust in the Cityzens to return to form against a Juve side that has yet to convince me they belong in the upper echelon of European soccer this season.
Odds are accurate at time of writing but subject to change.
Top Sportsbooks for Juventus Betting
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