It promises to be a fascinating encounter as Manchester City and Tottenham battle it out for a place in the Champions League semi-finals tomorrow.
City will be hoping to continue their recent good form at home in the Champions League. However, they will face a stern test against Spurs in what will be the first of two games in three days between both sides.
Tottenham visit the Etihad Stadium looking to defend their slender 1-0 lead. Son Heung-min’s second half goal was enough to give Spurs the victory in the first leg, meaning City will need to be in top form to progress against their Premier League rivals.
With no away goal for the Cityzens in the first leg, Spurs will know that scoring at the Etihad could prove decisive in this fixture.
However, Tottenham’s challenge has been made all the harder with Harry Kane’s injury. The striker limped off in the first leg and is feared to be out for the rest of the season.
City meanwhile will be desperate to put the ghosts of previous European disappointments behind them and establish themselves on the big stage as they look to progress to the semi-final.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino admission after last week’s win that City are still favourites to win the Champions League outright, not just their tie, is representative of the task that Spurs face despite that lead… and they will take it on without Kane.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The opening leg of this tie was the first of a quick-fire triple header between Manchester City and Tottenham, with the two teams meeting once more in the Premier League on Saturday.
The first leg victory was the London side’s only win in the last five meetings between the two clubs, with City winning the previous three.
The last time these two met at the Etihad was in December 2017, where City ran out emphatic 4-1 winners. In the entire history of this fixture these clubs are perfectly matched having met 157 times, each winning 61 with 35 games ending in draws.
The rivals have never previously faced each other in a European competition.
Manchester City have won the last three Premier League meetings by an aggregate score of 8-2 – most recently a 1-0 victory at Wembley in October 2018.
We are going for Manchester City home win which BetBiga.com offers attractive odds on.
RECENT FORM
First leg defeat to Spurs has been the only blip in City’s recent form. Its 15 other games since the last defeat away at Newcastle have ended in victory.
This run included a ridiculous 7-0 defeat of Schalke in their last Champions League home game. It’s safe to say that City fans would take a repeat of that result against Tottenham.
Following a torrid run of league form, which saw them go five games without a win, Pochettino’s men have won their last three fixtures without conceding a goal.
Their previous two away games in Europe resulted in a 1-0 win and 1-1 draw away to Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona respectively. Either of these score lines on Wednesday will be enough to see them through.
City have scored 15 goals in their last three home games in Europe and have the attacking qualities to blow Tottenham away.
However, Pep Guardiola is likely to play with an element of caution especially considering how City exited the Champions League last season with a 5-1 aggregate thrashing at the hands of Liverpool at this same stage.
PREDICTION
Despite trailing by a goal, Manchester City will not be going into this second leg with all guns blazing, as Guardiola will be aware of how lethal a Spurs away goal would be. The Citizens will be looking for a patient first half performance, looking to pick holes in the Tottenham defence before applying more pressure as the game goes on.
Spurs on the other hand will know that one goal could kill the game, but will be cautious not to leave themselves open at the back.
Expect this to be a very tight, tense affair with neither side wanting to commit too much too soon.
Check out BetBiga.com who are offering big odds for Under 2.5 goals. With Tottenham struggling away from home of late, City may just have too much for them on Wednesday night.
This brings us to another betting option; qualification for Manchester City.
PREDICTION: MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 TOTTENHAM
