City got 115 problems but football ain’t one
In 2024-25, Manchester City will be fighting two separate battles, one on the pitch and the other in the courtroom. Their reputation will be on the line, maybe more than ever before. Their future could be too.
54 charges of failure to provide accurate financial information. 14 charges of failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments. 7 charges of breaching profit and sustainability rules. 5 charges of failing to comply with UEFA’s FFP regulations. 35 charges of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations.
City were taken over by Sheikh Mansour (and his Abu Dhabi friends) in 2008 and have won 21 trophies since, including the Champions League in 2022-23 and eight Premier League titles, four of them straight between 2020 and 2024. They have been the team to beat for at least half a decade, and one of the best ever.
But if the three-person panel of legal experts finds City guilty, it will be a serious blow to their dignity. A massive fine would not do much harm to their deep pockets, but a massive points deduction or even expulsion from the Premier League could be detrimental. The process is now underway and should be over before the 2024-25 season ends.
City might be an unstoppable winning machine for now, having lost just once since December (!), but Pep Guardiola is into his contract year; it is difficult to see the Catalan enjoying a rebuild from League One. As for the players, how many would stay? When Juventus were expelled from Serie A in 2006, a plethora of stars remained with them, but the shirt of City does not carry a similar historic presence. In theory, it could also end the Abu Dhabi project.
City have previously overturned a two-year Champions League ban thanks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but it could get messy this time around. The process will definitely clear the air. “I’m happy it’s starting. Everybody is innocent until guilt is proven. We believe we have not done anything wrong,” Pep Guardiola said.
For now, City will be after their fifth straight win in the league to start the season. Can City continue their perfect run and which other games to enjoy over the weekend?
All times listed below are in Eastern European Summer Time (GMT+3).
Juventus – Napoli
Saturday 19:00
The new-look Juventus side are somewhat erratic but seem to have mastered the art of defending, with four clean sheets from four games to start the season – the perfect start for Michele Di Gregorio, who replaced the retired Wojciech Szczesny between the sticks over the summer. Juventus tend to take an early lead too, going 2-0 up by half-time in five of their last seven competitive wins.
Antonio Conte won three consecutive league titles at Juventus between 2012 and 2014 and celebrated again with Inter Milan in 2021; Napoli fans are hoping he can lead them to the summit as well, as they have won three in a row and find themselves second in the league. After going through three coaches and finishing a poor tenth last season, they have just the Serie A to contest in 2024/25.
Manchester City – Arsenal
Sunday 18:00
Despite City being pushed close by Arsenal twice, they have made a fortress out of the Etihad, going unbeaten in their last nine home games (7W 2D) since their last home defeat vs Arsenal in 2015. They are in fantastic form yet again, having won 13 in a row, with star striker Erling Haaland already up to nine goals (from four games).
But did the turn tide last season? Arsenal took four points off City, having earned just two from their previous 15 meetings (2D 13L). They also kept a clean sheet in both matches after having not done so in the previous 16. If they can do it again, Arsenal will become the first side in Premier League history not to trail even once in 12 successive away games.
Inter Milan – AC Milan
Sunday 21:45
The Derby della Madonnina is always special, but Inter have had the upper hand for quite some time now – in all competitions, they are undefeated in their last six head-to-heads dating back to September 2022. Recent form suggests the supremacy might continue as Inter (successfully) locked horns with Man City while Milan were second-best against Liverpool.
The same applies to the league as Inter are third and still undefeated (2W 2D) while Milan languish in tenth place (1W 2D 1L). Milan has let in two goals in three of their four games so far, but did a much better job against bottom-feeding Venezia last time out, scoring all four goals in the first half an hour en route to a 4-0 win.
The Betis Babble
OlyBet is the proud betting partner of Real Betis.
Next game: Monday 22:00 vs Mallorca
After going winless in their first three league rounds (2D 1L), Betis has turned a corner in their last two with successive wins over Leganes and Getafe. More importantly, both wins were thoroughly deserved, but Betis did not break the lock until the hour mark.
Like Betis, Mallorca have earned eight points from five games, but it has been a rather favourable match-up for Betis historically: they have won their last five head-to-head games and are undefeated since 2013 (8W 2D).
