Are Manchester City destined to win the Champions League this season?

This is a post by Peter Holmes.

Despite failing to inspire confidence in the Premier League, Manchester City are on the verge of reaching the Champions League final. Manuel Pellegrini’s men edged past Paris Saint-Germain to book their place in the final four alongside Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. In the draw, City were handed a difficult tie against Zinedine Zidane’s Real, who have won the competition a record ten times. And while City probed and pushed in the opening leg, they just couldn’t make the breakthrough but crucially kept a clean sheet to ensure the tie remains firmly in the balance.

If City snatch an away goal, Pellegrini’s side will be quietly confident of reaching the final. Supporters won’t be booking their flights to Milan for the final on May 28th just yet but City fans may fancy their chances against Real, especially as all of the pressure is on Zidane’s men. Ultimately, one goal could be enough to secure the most incredible of Champions League victories in City’s first ever semi-final but they will have to remain solid defensively to stand any chance of advancing. Pellegrini’s men cannot afford to gift Real any clear-cut opportunities or they will be punished. Madrid are just too good.

As of May 3rd, 32Red UK price City at 2/1 to qualify for the final. For the Blue to advance, they must either win on the night or secure a score draw. That is a result that would see Pellegrini’s side progress via the away goals rule. City have been ruthless away from home this season but they will rely on their defence on Wednesday. Vincent Kompany is one of the best defenders on the planet and the Belgian will be desperate to guide City to the final.

Meanwhile, Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov may have to refrain from heading forwards as City cannot afford to give the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema space in attack. In attack, City will have to be at their very best to cause problems for Sergio Ramos and Pepe but if there’s one man who could make the difference on Wednesday night, it’s Sergio Aguero. The former Atletico player will relish the opportunity to return to the Santiago Bernabeu and fate may even dictate that Aguero gets his name on the scoresheet. On a personal level, it would be an incredible feeling for Aguero to not only guide City into their first Champions League final but to eliminate Real Madrid when they were so close to the final.

Aguero is in fantastic form and he will be fired up for what could be the biggest game of his City career so far. The Argentine has scored seven goals in his last eight games in all competitions and both 32Red and NetBet are offering 12/5 on Aguero to score during 90 minutes on Wednesday. Of course, this match could go to extra-time if the score is goalless at the end of normal time but, with Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne and Real’s high-octane offense on the field, a 0-0 draw is unlikely.

As well as the Aguero connection, it would be foolish to dismiss the Manuel Pellegrini factor in City’s chances. The City boss will leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season and Pep Guardiola, currently at Bayern Munich, will take charge of City as of July 1st. It would be phenomenal for Pellegrini’s City legacy if he was to leave the Etihad with the club’s first Champions League title. Just reaching the final would be marvelous of course, but you'd have to feel that fate was guiding City to the crown if they can advance past the mighty Real Madrid.