Champions League Preview and Odds - Manchester City vs Monaco

Published on: 21/02/2017

Champions League Preview and Odds - Manchester City vs Monaco

February 21, 2017 19:45pm - Etihad Stadium

Referee: Antonio Mateu

Champions League - Knockout Stage

Manchester City`s UEFA Champions League quest will continue on Tuesday night when they welcome Ligue 1 leaders AS Monaco to the Etihad Stadium for the first leg of their Round-of-16 tie.

City looking for improvement after slack FA Cup display

Manchester City may not have set the world on fire with their performances in recent weeks, but they have risen up to second in the Premier League table and have conceded just one goal in their last five games in all competitions.

Sky Blues boss Pep Guardiola watched his side play out a frustrating 0-0 draw away to Huddersfield in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday but must now turn his attention to a tournament that he is much more familiar with.

The Spanish coach led Bayern Munich to the semi-final stage last season, while City also made the last four under Mauricio Pelligrino. The Manchester Club are unbeaten in their nine games at home in this competition and will at least want to take a lead back to the Stade Louis II for the second leg.

Meanwhile, Monaco will arrive in England unbeaten in the last 12 matches in all competitions. In addition, they will be looking for their third consecutive win on English soil, having beaten Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in this competition within the last 12 months.

Under the guidance of Coach Leonardo Jardim and with Radamel Falcao leading the line, Les Monegasques have stormed to the top of Ligue 1, where they currently lead Paris Saint-Germain by a three-point margin. However, they were held 1-1 away to a struggling Bastia last time out.

Team news

The home side have got used to operating without Vincent Kompany and the Captain will miss out once again with a muscle injury. He will be joined on the sick bench by Aleksandar Kolarov (knock), Gael Clichy (knock), Gabriel Jesus (metatarsal fracture) and Ilkay Gundogan (knee).

Meanwhile, Jemerson is suspended for the visitors, while Tiemoue Bakayoko (knee), Gabriel Boschilia (ACL), Pierre-Daniel NGuinda (thigh) and Guido Carrillo (adductor strain) have all been ruled out.

Recent form (All competitions)

Manchester City: DWWWW

Monaco: DWWWW

Betting odds and tips

It was hardly a weakened Man City side that was held to a goalless draw by Championship side Huddersfield at the weekend, but there have at least been some positive signs for Pep Guardiola in recent weeks. A run of five games with just one goal conceded may be the result of some defensive work on the training ground, while their attacking line still poses an obvious threat, despite the lack of end product at the weekend.

As they showed in the group stage game against Barcelona, they are capable of beating anyone on their day. And in the last nine Champions League home matches, they have also held off Real Madrid and PSG. Monaco have been inconsistent away from home in this event over the last 12 months, with wins at Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, countered by defeats at Fenerbache, Valencia and Bayer Leverkuesen. However, they have scored at least once in six of their last seven Champions League away games.

You can back Both Teams to Score at 4/6 with Bet365

By Neil Morris

Published on: 21/02/2017

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (21/02/2017 10:29:40) but are subject to change.