SM
Inter Milan vs. Como: 12 hrs 37 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
MC
Champions League | Round-Of-16
Feb 24, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
BL

1-2

Aguero (69')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Suarez (16', 30')

Preview: Manchester City vs. Barcelona

:Headline: Preview: Manchester City vs. Barcelona: ID:207315: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's last-16 Champions League clash between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad.

In a repeat of last season's fixture at this stage of the competition, Manchester City will tackle Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg to be held at the Etihad on Tuesday evening.

Barcelona won 4-1 on aggregate last term, with their two-legged affair the first time that the two teams had ever met in European competition.

Barca are by far the more experienced at this stage of the competition, however, with the Spanish club in the last 16 for the 11th time in a row, while this is just City's second appearance in the knockout stages.

City remarkably beat Bayern Munich and Roma in their final two Group E fixtures to qualify for the round-of-16, but their 3-2 win over Bayern on matchday five was just their third win in their last 10 European home matches. That said, City have lost just one of their five home games against Spanish clubs.

Barcelona, meanwhile, are pursuing their eighth successive quarter-final appearance. The Catalan outfit lost at Paris Saint-Germain in the group stages, but eventually finished top of Group F after beating the French side at home.

Luis Enrique's side have won 11 of their last 12 matches in all competitions, but will enter the match off the back of a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Malaga at the weekend. That reverse left them four points behind Real Madrid in the race for the La Liga title. Barca have the best defensive record in Spain this season, however, which has put to bed some criticisms of their defence.

The home side will be without the services of key midfielder Yaya Toure, who is suspended, while James Milner is also an injury doubt. January signing Wilfried Bony is pushing for his first start, but Edin Dzeko is expected to feature alongside Sergio Aguero in attack after scoring twice in their 5-0 win over Newcastle United at the weekend.

Enrique, meanwhile, left Javier Mascherano and Ivan Rakitic out of his XI for Saturday's league defeat against Malaga, but both are expected to return to the side. Marc-Andre ter Stegen will start between the sticks, while Luis Suarez will return to England for the first time since leaving Liverpool last summer.

Man City:

Form in CL: LDDLWW
Form in all competitions: LLDDWW

Possible starting lineup: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho; Silva, Aguero, Nasri; Dzeko

Barcelona:

Form in CL: WLWWWW
Form in all competitions: WWWWWL

Possible starting lineup: Ter Stegen; Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Alba; Rakitic, Iniesta, Busquets; Neymar, Messi, Suarez

Sports Mole says: 1-2


amp_article__207315 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2015-02-24 13:04:05:
html db last update - 2015-02-24 13:04:05 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Read more!
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .