The changes in the seeding system for Champions League groups was thought to favour Manchester City, who had always suffered from their relatively low coefficient under the old rules and ended up with tough sections on each occasion.
But being handed the Italian champions and last season’s Champions League runners-up, Juventus, the Spanish side Sevilla and the Bundesliga’s Borussia Mönchengladbach in group D was hardly generous. The good news for City is that while Manuel Pellegrini’s side have started the domestic season like a train with five successive wins and no goals conceded to lead the Premier League, all their group opponents have done the opposite – Juventus have not won a game in Serie A, Sevilla are the same in La Liga while Mönchengladbach have lost their opening four games and are bottom of the Bundesliga.
However, without Sergio Agüero in attack and with a trip to Germany next up, Pellegrini will be aware that home form is what has cost City dear in Europe in the past, and that a slip-up against Juve could immediately put their qualifying hopes in jeopardy in a group that looks far from simple. Paul Chronnell
Kick-off Tuesday 7.45pm BST
Venue Etihad Stadium
Referee D Skomina (Sln)
Odds H 4/5 A 9/2 D 11-4
Manchester City
Subs from Caballero, Zabaleta, Clichy, Demichelis, Otamendi, Fernando, Navas
Doubtful Nasri
Injured Agüero, Delph
Suspended None
Form WWWWW
Juventus
Subs from Neto, Cáceres, Sandro, Barzagli, Rugani, Lemina, Zaza, Morata, Cuadrado
Doubtful None
Injured Khedira, Marchisio, Asamoah
Suspended None
Form (all competitions) WLLD
