Mike’s picks

Manchester City are in terrific form and it is hard to find a team that plays more enterprising and exciting football than City.

Coach Pep Guardiola has led his side on an incredible 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions, with their last win being a comprehensive 6-1 demolition job over Southampton in the English Premier League, where they are vying for a second successive league crown under their highly-rated boss.

However, the last time City lost a match was in the Uefa Champions League at home to French side Lyon. Yet while City march on in England’s top flight, they are struggling to replicate their dominance on the European front.

Tonight they are at home to Shakhtar Donetsk, who are third in Group F, where City are at the summit of the log standings with a slight advantage over Lyon.

Knowing that a win tonight will put them on better ground, City will make no mistake at the Etihad Stadium and will see off the Ukrainians. Pool code: S6 V1 P2 M1: Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk. Previewed above. Easy win for City. Tip: City win = 1. M2: Bayern Munich v AEK Athens. Win for hosts. Tip: Bayern win = 1. M3: Benfica v Ajax Amsterdam. Narrow win for home side. Tip: Benfica Win = 1. M4: Juventus v Manchester United. Joy for the Old Lady. Tip: Juventus win = 1. M5: Lyon v Hoffenheim. All points for Lyon. Tip: Lyon win = 1. M6: Viktoria Pizen v Read Madrid. Away win for Madrid.

Tip: Madrid win = 3.