How Man City can capitalise on Barcelona’s defensive dearth

Man City v Barcelona tips in light of visiting injuries

Manchester City supporters know very well that beating Barcelona is a tall order, but the Catalan giants are depleted in defence for their second Champions League group game.

Take out defensive lynchpin Gerard Pique, experienced pro Jeremy Mathieu, marauding left back Jordi Alba and an unsettled Aleix Vidal, and the travelling team from the Nou Camp can certainly be got at it.

A head-to-head record against Barca of five losses for the Etihad outfit isn’t encouraging, but City are not without their own merits if you back them with Coral for a home win on Tuesday.

Who can be a threat for hosts? Aguero wincast

Sergio Aguero is the hosts’ 13-goal top scorer in all competitions and is thus the feature of a superb 7/2 enhanced matchday special wincast (max stake €/£20). Only club captain Vincent Kompany and the Argentina frontman have netted against Barcelona previously, but never has their defence been so weakened.

Although Javier Mascherano remains available, the rest of the likely Barca back four have question marks against them. Sergi Roberto is a utility man down the right-hand side, while left-footers Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Digne are still bedding in after summer switches.

Both France internationals are yet to play 10 games for Barcelona, and this is surely something Man City’s stellar supporting cast of Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne can exploit.