Manchester City vs Dynamo Kiev
Champions League Round of 16
Venue: The Etihad
Kick-off Time: 7:45 PM (GMT)
After the humiliating loss in the FA Cup to Chelsea and the 0-0 draw in the league game in the weekend, the pressure on Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is on the rise. However, he will face a relatively easy game against Dynamo Kiev this mid-week in the Champions League.
Manchester City won the first leg 3-1 away from home and are all but assured a place in the quarter final of the tournament for the first time and the manager will have to make sure that they finish off the tie in style without taking too many risks.
Kosovskyi, the manager of the Ukrainian outfit will know that the task at hand is not easy and will be hoping for his team to enjoy and put in their best performance in this game.
Manchester City vs Dynamo Kiev Team News
Manuel Pellegrini does not have to deal with any new injuries to the squad. He will however miss the services of mid-fielders Samir Nasri, Kevin de Bruyne and Fabian Delph, all of whom are out with various injuries. We can expect the likes of Bony and Navas to be benched while Raheem Sterling might be given an outing this mid-week.
The travelling manager has a few headaches before this crunch game. Mykola Morozyukwith is sidelined for Dynamo with a knee injury and will be a big blow for the visitors on the night. The likes of Yarmolenko, Rybka and Sydorchuk are doubtful for this game and will go through late fitness tests before the game.
Manchester City vs Dynamo Kiev Predicted line-ups
Man City – Hart; Clichy, Kompany, Otamendi, Sagna; Fernandinho, Toure, Silva, Sterling; Iheanacho Aguero
Dynamo Kiev – Shovkovskiy; Dragovic, Khacheridi, Silva, Antunes; Veloso; Garmash, Yarmolenko, Buyalskyy, Gusev; Teodorczyk
Manchester City vs Dynamo Kiev Key Battles
Sergio Aguero vs Khacheridi
Aguero has not been in good form off late but is still a proven goal scorer and the biggest threat for the visitors in this game. The likes of Khacheridi will have to stay close to him and afford him no space if the visitors are to get anything from this game. Aguero will be looking to get on the score sheet and find his lost confidence.
Vitaliy Buyalskyi vs Fernandinho
Buyalskyi showed his attacking talent in the first leg against Manchester City and will yet again be given the license to roam around in the final third. He can find the net as he has shown and will have to be put away from harms range by the likes of Fernandinho if City are to avoid a scrapping entry into the next round.
Manchester City vs Dynamo Kiev Key Stats
- The teams have previously met in the round of 16 of 2010/11 UEFA Europa League, Dynamo winning the tie on 2-1 aggregate after a 2-0 win at Kiev followed by a 1-0 City win back in Manchester.
- The overall head-to-head record put the Citizens on front with 2 wins against 1 win by Dynamo, which could be extended after this tie.
- None of Manchester City’s 35 Champions League games has ended 0-0
- City have scored more goals than any other team in the final 15 minutes of games in the Champions League this season (6).
- Sergio Agüero has scored 16 goals in his last 17 Champions League starts.
- Raheem Sterling has scored three goals and delivered two assists in his last three Champions League starts.
Manchester City vs Dynamo Kiev Prediction
The Ukrainian franchise have failed to win a single game so far in English soil and are not looking like turning around their record this mid-week.
They won two back to back games in the domestic league but a travel to the Etihad might just be too hot to handle for Kosovskyi’s side in the Champions League encounter. Predicted Scoreline – Manchester City 3-0 Dynamo Kiev.
Image Credit: Getty, Futbolgrad