Manchester City welcome AEK Athens to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, looking to get their Champions League campaign back on track.

Enzo Maresca’s side have been ruthless domestically, winning all seven Premier League matches this season. Europe, however, has been a different story.

City suffered a disappointing 4-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain last week, leaving them with three points from their opening two Champions League fixtures.

Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Ipswich restored some confidence, although it also raised concerns over the fitness of several key players.

AEK Athens arrive with three points of their own, having beaten LASK before suffering a 3-1 defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Greek champions face a considerably tougher challenge at the Etihad, where City will be determined to deliver a statement performance.

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What are the best betting tips for Manchester City vs AEK Athens?

Manchester City to win and over 2.5 goals

Manchester City have won all seven Premier League matches this season, and their attacking quality should prove too much for AEK Athens.

Even in Saturday’s narrow 3-2 victory over Ipswich, City demonstrated how quickly they can punish opponents.

AEK conceded three against Shakhtar Donetsk in their previous Champions League outing, and facing City’s attacking options at the Etihad presents an even tougher challenge.

With the hosts looking to respond to their defeat against PSG, there’s every chance they could score three or four themselves.

Rayan Cherki to score or assist

Rayan Cherki could have an important role to play with several City attackers carrying injuries.

The Frenchman offers creativity in tight spaces, something Maresca’s side may need against an AEK team expected to defend deep.

City should dominate possession and spend long periods around the visitors’ penalty area.

That could provide Cherki with plenty of opportunities to create chances or get on the scoresheet himself.

AEK Athens under 1.5 team goals

AEK have scored in both Champions League matches this season, but facing Manchester City at the Etihad represents a considerable step up.

The visitors managed a narrow victory over LASK before suffering a 3-1 defeat against Shakhtar.

City’s defence was exposed by PSG last week, although AEK are unlikely to offer the same attacking threat.

With the hosts expected to control possession, limiting the Greek side to fewer than two goals looks a reasonable approach.

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What is Manchester City’s predicted team?

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Enzo Fernández, Bouaddi; Foden, Cherki, Ndiaye; Haaland.

Injured: Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly.

Doubts: Erling Haaland, Mateo Kovačić, Matheus Nunes.

Suspended: None confirmed.

Enzo Maresca faces several fitness concerns following Saturday’s victory over Ipswich.

Haaland scored twice but appeared to be struggling towards the end of the match. Maresca subsequently suggested the Norwegian’s problem was not serious.

Semenyo is a bigger concern after suffering a knee injury, while O’Reilly was forced off with a back problem.

Kovačić and Nunes also require assessments.

Cherki could start in an attacking midfield role, with Phil Foden and Iliman Ndiaye offering support from wide positions.

If Haaland isn’t risked, Maresca may need to adjust his attacking setup.

What is AEK Athens’ predicted team?

Formation: 4-4-2

Brignoli; Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pilios; Majer, Vitális, Marin, Koita; Zini, Jović.

Injured: Thomas Strakosha.

Doubts: None confirmed.

AEK Athens are expected to adopt a compact formation for their visit to Manchester.

Goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha remains unavailable with a wrist injury, meaning Alberto Brignoli should continue between the posts.

Barnabás Varga has returned to fitness and provides another attacking option.

Luka Jović could lead the line alongside Zini, with Lovro Majer offering creativity from midfield.

The visitors will need disciplined defensive performances from Harold Moukoudi and Filipe Relvas if they are to contain City’s attack.

Manchester City vs AEK Athens stats

• Manchester City have won all seven Premier League matches this season.
• City beat Ipswich 3-2 on Saturday, with Erling Haaland scoring twice.
• The hosts lost 4-2 to PSG in their previous Champions League fixture.
• AEK Athens beat LASK 1-0 in their opening European match.
• AEK lost 3-1 against Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday two.
• Both teams have three points from their opening two Champions League fixtures.

Where can I watch Manchester City vs AEK Athens?

Manchester City host AEK Athens at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, with kick-off at 8pm BST.

United Kingdom: TNT Sports 1, with streaming through HBO Max.

United States: Paramount+, with kick-off at 3pm ET.

Canada: DAZN Canada, with kick-off at 3pm ET.

Manchester City vs AEK Athens prediction

Manchester City’s defeat against PSG exposed some defensive weaknesses, but this looks like an ideal opportunity to respond.

Maresca’s side have won every Premier League match this season, and their attacking quality has rarely been in doubt.

AEK Athens will likely arrive with a defensive game plan, but keeping City quiet for 90 minutes is a completely different challenge.

The visitors conceded three against Shakhtar Donetsk, and the prospect of facing Haaland, Foden and Cherki at the Etihad is hardly encouraging.

Even if Haaland isn’t fit enough to start, City have more than enough attacking options to cause problems.

Expect the hosts to dominate possession, create plenty of chances and eventually overwhelm the Greek champions.

Score prediction: Manchester City 4-0 AEK Athens

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