EFL Cup, 3rd round, Tuesday, 09/24/2024 at 8:45 p.m.
As already announced earlier this year, the third round of the EFL Cup in England is split into two parts. This week, the Champions League participants will be the first to take the field.
So it comes to the clash between the Cityzens and the Hornets with a week’s delay, if you will.
It could turn out to be the one-sided match we expected, and accordingly, my Manchester City Watford tip is for a clear win for the home side.
Sure, the highlight matches are one thing. Pep Guardiola’s team have had two of them in the last few days.
On the one hand, they faced Inter Milan at the start of the new Champions League season. But the 0-0 result was a good result for the Skyblues in the end, as the Italians played courageously.
In the Premier League, there was a top game on Sunday with champions’ contenders Arsenal. The game, in which they scored an equalizer late on, sapped the reigning champions’ strength.
Can they now get their focus back on the essentials? Earlier this week, midfield star Rodri complained that the competitions were too demanding.
On the River Colne, they can only dream of European nights and top-flight league games. The reality there is quite different.
After starting the new season with five competitive wins, coach Tom Cleverley’s team have only managed one point from their last three matches.
Across the season, the Hornets have only won one of their last seven away games (2W, 4D). Not a promising situation.
But who knows, anything is possible in the cup. Unlike in the FA Cup, if the game is tied after 120 minutes, there will be a penalty shootout.
And anything can happen from the spot. According to some betting providers, it is more likely that the second division team will make it to the penalty shootout and win there than a normal victory.
In the Manchester City Watford betting tip, the Betano app gives a prediction of just over 10.00 should this happen. One can still dream…
After all, the Skyblues were knocked out by Newcastle in the third round last season, and in the two years before that, they only made it to the quarter-finals at best.
The fact that the Hornets have only once made it past the third round in the EFL Cup is rare enough. Exactly once since 2008, to be precise.
What could prevent them this time is their defense. In three of their last five league away games, they have conceded at least three goals.
Considering that they have conceded 19 (!) goals against the Cityzens at the Etihad Stadium in their last three games, that should give them pause for thought.
No wonder that Betway sports betting is offering odds of just 1.60 in the Manchester City Watford betting tip if there are at least three goals for the home side.
Multiple pressures and possible rotations in the squad or not: there is no question in my mind that the hosts will win this game comfortably.
The Hornets may have started the season well, but the initial euphoria has now subsided considerably. I think they have an outside chance at best.
Therefore, my Manchester City Watford betting tip is: The Skyblues win both halves!
