Champions League team news and prediction: Gladbach vs Man City
Sitting comfortably atop the Premier League table, now Pep Guardiola's task is to ensure his Manchester City side can overcome their demons in Europe and go all the way in the Champions League.
City have been awarded a very favourable last-16 tie against Bundesliga outfit Gladbach, though in their current form it's hard to see any side putting up a decent fight. Ahead of their first leg encounter, we have all your need-to-know matchday information, including team news, scoreline prediction, where the game is taking place and how you can watch it.
When is kick off?
Wednesday 24th February, 20:00 GMT
Where is the match?
Puskas Arena, Budapest (Hungary)
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 2
Form Guide
After a really convincing start to 2021, undefeated in their first seven matches with five wins in that time, the wheels have come off for Gladbach at the worst possible time, perhaps no coincidence since it was announced their manager, Marco Rose, will join rivals Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season. Gladbach head into Wednesday's match winless in three, twice losing at home in that time. Coming out of a group with Real Madrid and Inter, however, Gladbach should cherish still being in the competition.
Manchester City, meanwhile, are in sublime form and have been for some time now. City are unbeaten in their last 25 matches since a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham in November and Pep Guardiola's side have remarkably won 18 on the spin. Across all 25 matches they have impressively 18 clean sheets. Any questions about Guardiola's future earlier in the season have been answered emphatically since Christmas.
Team News
Gladbach need everything to go their way on Wednesady night and the Bundesliga outfit at least have a full squad to pick from for the first leg. Denis Zakaria is a midfielder that has reguarly been linked with a Premier League move but he is only likely to make the bench here given his fitness woes this season. Few surprises are expected from Marco Rose.
City also have a practically full squad at their disposal, aside from Nathan Ake. Kevin De Bruyne is back from injury and Sergio Aguero is still building match fitness from the bench. Phil Foden and Rodri were rested in the win over Arsenal at the weekend and will certainly return to the side here, while Aymeric Laporte, Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker will also push for recalls.
Probable XIs
Gladbach (4231): Sommer; Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini; Kramer, Neuhaus; Hofmann, Stindl, Thuram; Plea
Man City (433): Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Sterling, Jesus, Foden
Key Battle: Marcus Thuram vs Raheem Sterling
Marcus Thuram was a revelation for Gladbach during the Champions League group stage, with a brace over Real Madrid and assists against Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk. The 23-year-old only actually has as many goal involvements in Europe this season (4 in 6 appearances) as he does in the Bundesliga (4 in 17). Banned over Christmas for six-games after sitting in the face of Hoffenheim's Stefan Posch, it's far to say the Frenchman has lost his way since then and Gladbach desperately need him to rediscover his best form for Wednesday night.
After an indifferent start to the season, Raheem Sterling has really hit his stride for Manchester City in the last month. Sterling has scored in five of his last seve league matches and is currently the most in-form player in the Premier League according to our unique rating system. Sterling has three goal involvements in Europe this season and he will be keen to improve on just one goal from six appearances in the competition thus far.
Scoreline Prediction: Gladbach 0-2 Man City
