Manchester City have lost three Premier League games in a row, and Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest was something we never saw coming. All that has got plenty of punters wondering if it's time to wager against Man City, but the more important question is which market, if any, is valuable?
Man City Form and Key Statistics
Aston Villa and Brighton had beaten City at home before they came to the City Ground where they were 2-0 down at half-time. Liam Delap, who is now against his former club, scored his second in the 73rd to put them out of their misery and Rayan Cherki put one back in the 52nd.
The table still looks respectable. After ten games, City sit six points behind leaders Arsenal with 21 points after 10 games from seven wins and three losses. They had scored 20 and conceded 10 in their first nine matches, which makes it 13 conceded in ten after Saturday. That is not a team that has lost its attack, but the backline is clearly under pressure.
Match Analysis
Enzo Maresca said his players lacked intensity, and they were outgunned in duels. That is a worrying thing for a manager to say because it points to attitude, not a tactical detail he can fix with a new shape. If teams are going to be pressing hard and getting second balls then they will fancy their chances right now against City and Forest gave a template. The run also covers three different opponents. Villa, Brighton and Forest play differently, and City lost to all of them.
City continue to score goals, though. Cherki's performance in Forest was proof enough of the attacking quality and the statistics before the weekend indicated the same. That is why the idea of simply backing every opponent needs care. It assumes City have stopped creating chances, and nothing so far proves that.
Maresca also provided fitness reports for Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol but a lack of either at the back is a great absence for City.
Should You Bet Against Man City?
Well a bet against City is a risky way to read this. If they have a losing streak, it can be an end to that run in one game, and bookmakers will likely have adjusted already. If an opponent’s price has shortened, the value may be gone before you get to it.
The stronger angle is a market that assumes City will concede without writing off their goals. Both teams to score qualify for this description. So does Double Chance on the opposition when the City are away, and the price is reasonable. Which one makes sense depends on the opponent, the venue and the odds on the day, so compare prices first.
At the same time, none of this is certain. Football is unpredictable, and a single strong performance can reset a team’s confidence. Read our article on the common mistakes to avoid in football betting
Conclusion
City are in a real slump, but the data points to a team that is leaking goals rather than one that has stopped scoring. That makes Both Teams to Score a more logical angle than backing the opposition outright. Check team news, check the price, and only stake what you can afford to lose.
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