Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
Erling Haaland’s Manchester City travel to La Cerámica looking to extend their unbeaten run. Villarreal are strong at home, but have yet to truly impress in this season’s Champions League.
Villarreal
Villarreal have made a confident start to their La Liga campaign — 17 points from nine matches and a solid third place in the table. At home, they’ve been outstanding, going unbeaten in six matches this season. However, things haven’t gone as smoothly in Europe: just one point so far, following a 0:1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and a 2:2 draw with Juventus, salvaged by Renato Veiga’s 90th-minute equaliser. Defence remains their weak spot — Villarreal have managed just one clean sheet in their last nine games in all competitions.
Manchester City
Manchester City opened the season slowly, suffering defeats to Tottenham Hotspur (0:2) and Brighton (1:2), but have since found their rhythm, putting together an eight-match unbeaten run, including a 2:0 win over Napoli and a 2:2 draw with AS Monaco in the Champions League. Erling Haaland is once again in devastating form, scoring 14 goals in 10 matches this season. At the back, Manchester City have tightened up — five clean sheets in their last eight games, four of them thanks to Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroics.
Villarreal vs Manchester City Prediction
Villarreal are formidable at home, but Manchester City’s firepower looks too much for them to contain. Expect Erling Haaland and his teammates to break down the hosts’ defence and take all three points.
