Man City vs Young Boys Prediction: Alvarez to fire champs to big win

It's matchday 4 in the Champions League and in Group G Manchester City can qualify for the knockout stages with a fourth successive win over Young Boys. We've previewed the 8pm kick off on Tuesday evening and given you our betting predictions. 

Manchester City have had a perfect start to their Champions League title defence, beating Red Star, Leipzig and Young Boys with ease, to sit atop Group G with a maximum nine points.

Now, they face the Swiss side at home and Pep Guardiola knows that another win here would secure qualification to the next round and allow him to rotate his squad for the remaining two group games.

Young Boys have responded well to their 3-1 defeat by the Cityzens, with two wins and a draw and are unbeaten since the end of September domestically.

Raphaël Wicky's outfit are sat top of the Swiss Super League but need to start picking up points in Europe to at least have a shot at the Europa League spot.

Team News

City are sweating on the fitness of star-striker Erling Haaland after he came off at half time in their recent win over Bournemouth. Kevin De Bruyne is their only comfirmed long term injury.

Meanwhile, Wicky is without both Kastriot Imeri and Lukasz Lakomy ahead of the trip to north west England.

Match Odds

As expected, Man City are huge odds on favourites here at 1/20, with Young Boys at 22/1 to pull off the massive shock. The draw is more modestly priced at 8/1.

The Betfred traders are expecting a goal fest with over 2.5 goals just 8/15 and over 3.5 at 11/8. Both Teams to Score looks unlikely in this one with NO priced at just 2/5.

Man City -2 Handicap - 8/11

Guardiola's men are really starting to crank up their form as we enter the pre-Christmas period and have responded to a disappointing loss to Arsenal, with four straight wins in all competitions. In those four outings City have scored 14 times and conceded on just the three occasions.

The treble winners smashed six past the Cherries at the weekend and look to have their attacking game firing in perfect sync at present. Young Boys could find themselves overwhelmed at the Etihad and I like City to win giving the Swiss side a two-goal start.

Julian Alvarez to score 2+ goals - 11/4

With Guardiola apparently ready to rest Haaland, given his knock and the relentless fixture list, it appears that the World Cup winner Julian Alvarez will be pushed into the number nine role for this one.

The 23-year-old has already demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess in a deeper role when the Norwegian is playing but he really comes into his own when given the central advanced role he should take up on Tuesday evening.

Alvarez has seven goals in all competitions for City this year and bagged a brace in their opening Champions League fixture against Red Star. I think he can emulate that again against Young Boys.

You can find all our latest Football Betting Tips at our football hub on Betfred Insights.