Man City to dispatch Dynamo, Atleti to punish PSV in Champions League last 16
Published:
Holly Thackeray | March 14, 2016
Tuesday evening sees several top clubs from around the continent pick up their swords again for the second legs of their Champions League last 16 contests, as Manchester City resume their duel with Dynamo Kiev and Atletico Madrid vie with PSV Eindhoven at the Vicente Calderon.
It’s still all to play for, as City in particular strive to reach a quarter-final for the first time in their club history, so Coral preview the betting for these exciting European encounters…
Manchester City v Dynamo Kiev
- Champions League
- Tuesday, March 15th
- Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
- Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- Live on BT Sport Europe
City to seal the deal against Dynamo
Manchester City (odds-on 8/13 match favourites in 90 mins) welcome Ukrainian club Dynamo Kiev back to Manchester for their last 16 second leg, seeking to build on their 3-1 advantage from the reverse and clinch their first ever quarter-final spot.
The Mancunians already have their crucial away goals and will want to nip any ideas of a Dynamo revival in the bud, so a draw at 3/1 would be no drama for the home team.
After a mixed bag of results across all competitions of late, though, Manuel Pellegrini’s men should be keen to flex their muscles and pass this landmark in style, so customers can back the Sky Blues at a better value 3/1 to win both halves, or 9/5 to net three or more goals again.
Do or die for Dynamo
The visiting Kiev club will be forced to take the game to City, and that approach could well yield plenty of strikes on the counter, with odds of 33/20 for over 3.5 goals to occur in the game.
Adaptable attacker Andriy Yarmolenko has another chance to put himself in the English shop window, and his form will be central on Dynamo’s slim chance of overturning their deficit.
After striking two on as many of his last matches, the Ukraine international is 10/3 to be on target anytime, while fellow midfielder with a nose for goal Denys Harmash is 7/1 in the same market.
City’s strikeforce should still boast far too much quality for their guests to handle, however, with scorers from the first leg Sergio Aguero (3/1 for a brace or better), David Silva (2/1 to notch anytime) and Yaya Toure (7/4) all priced generously for repeat potent performances.
While, this match would also be the perfect chance for one of striking pair Kelechi Iheanacho or Wilfried Bony to stake a claim.
Atletico Madrid v PSV Eindhoven
- Champions League
- Tuesday, March 15th
- Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
- Vicente Calderon, Madrid
- Live on BT Sport 2
Atletico eyeing poor PSV away record
While in Spain, La Liga giants Atletico Madrid will make for menacing hosts, as they welcome Dutch club PSV Eindhoven to their patch.
After a stalemate at the Philips Stadion, Atleti must be cautious not to get complacent, but should be confident of their 1/3 chance of victory in normal time, and slight extended odds of 1/4 to qualify for the quarters.
Eindhoven’s European away haul this term makes for troubled viewing, as they have so far failed to rack up a win on the road, so at best they may fancy their chances of 4/1 to force another splitting of spoils over 90 minutes.
PSV predators Luuk de Jong and Jurgen Locadia are more than reliable scorers, so are tempting shouts at 10/3 and 7/2 respectively to bag anytime in this testing encounter.
Though, if there is one thing Diego Simeone’s side is known for, it is their defensive diligence and workrate across the pitch, having conceded just one goal in their past seven in all competitions. PSV will need all their potency to break through such a staunch backline, which is why the Madrid men are odds-on at 4/7 to keep a clean sheet.
Simeone’s attacking stars to shine
The Spanish capital club continue to climb the Liga table domestically and, after a handful of tight wins, finally burst the flood banks with a 3-0 win last time out against Deportivo de La Coruna.
France forward Antoine Griezmann grabbed his fourth goal in successive clashes in that match and is a cool 3/1 to open scoring in Madrid, while Argentine whizz Angel Correa had the final say and is 9/2 to do so again.
Promising Correa is just one of a gaggle of Atleti talents to watch out for, as compatriot Luciano Vietto and Belgian winger Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco also compete for places.
With a strong backbone including homegrown midfielders Saul Niguez and Koke, Simeone’s side look a real threat for the Champions League title, but must take this chance to show their skill as scoring ability as well as their steel.
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Coral’s top tip: Back City at a superb 3/1 to win both halves.
