Betting Tips for Today: Moraes should provide a tough test for Manchester City defence

Manchester City are 4/11 (1.36) to beat Shakhtar Donetsk on the midweek Champions League coupon but a trip to the Ukrainian champions is usually far from straightforward.

Few teams will carry the respect that City do of course, but Shakhtar have never lost a home match against an English side in this competition (Won 5, Drawn 2).

The hosts have also scored at least twice in each of their last seven home Champions League clashes so a high-scoring match is understandably being kept short from a betting standpoint. Both teams to score is available at 3/5 (1.60) while over 3.5 goals trades at 21/20 (2.05).

PAUL ELLIS

Many of City's leading players will be well found in the market but defensively the Premier League holders haven't been as solid as Pep Guardiola would like, particularly in Europe.

Both Hoffenheim and Lyon found a way past the visitors' backline and it's logical to expect a side such as Shakhtar to keep that run going taking into account their prowess at this venue in recent years.

Given the expectation of a shootout, the value could be in turning to the scorer markets - particularly quotes about the home sides' leading attacking options.

Goal

Junior Moraes certainly fits the bill and at 17/2 (9.50) to score first or 49/20 (3.45) to net anytime, backing the 31-year-old is a tasty betting proposition too.

Moraes scored both goals in the 2-2 draw with Lyon on matchday two and has nine goals in his last 10 games in all competitions.

17 of Shakhtar's last 19 Champions League goals have been scored by South Americans, 14 of them coming from Brazilians and Moraes deserves his status as the shortest priced home player to score, although at 49/20 (3.45) with 888Sport he looks a good bet ahead of what could be another open encounter in Kharkiv.

Junior Moraes to score anytime at 49/20 (3.45) for a 1pt stake with 888Sport 888Sport