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Man City v Schalke betting tips: Cityzens to finish job started in Gelsenkirchen?

| 12.03.2019
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Odds and preview ahead of Champions League last-16 second leg

Manchester City come into the second leg with a slender 3-2 lead, and despite the three away goals, there’s no room for complacency in the home tie against Schalke.

Manager Pep Guardiola stated he was happier with their position at the same stage this year in comparison to being 3-0 down after the first leg, but they’re still “teenagers of the competition” so need to avoid the complacent mindset.

Schalke have nothing to lose, so can throw everything they’ve got at City with no risk of throwing away a lead. Can Schalke pull off an unlikely turnaround at the Etihad, or are City walking into the quarters?

We’ve got all the crucial stats and preview ahead of the clash which kicks-off live on BT Sport 2HD at 8pm…

Head-to-head

After the win in Gelsenkirchen, City stretched their winning run over Schalke to three matches, with their unbeaten run against German sides extended to eight.

Guardiola’s side come into the game on the back of a nine-game winning streak, running out 3-1 winners in their last Premier League clash against Watford.

Schalke are on a bad run of form and haven’t won in six matches over all competitions. They’ve lost three league matches in a row since the first City tie, so they’ll need to hit their best form on the Manchester turf if they’re to stand any chance of getting through.

Die Konigsblauen last won on English soil in 2012, where they beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates. A repeat of that scoreline will see them through to the quarter-final draw.

Likely XIs

City will be without Argentine centre-back Nicolas Otamendi after picking up a red card in the first leg.

They’ll also be missing Benjamin Mendy, Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho through injury, but John Stones is likely to line up alongside Aymeric Laporte as the only first-choice centre-back’s available.

Vincent Kompany sat out training so is likely to miss this game through injury.

Schalke will travel to Manchester without defenders Alessandro Schopf and Daniel Caligiuri, who both miss out through injury.

Omar Mascarell is another who wasn’t among the travelling party, with the defensive midfielder recuperating from a knock back in Germany.

Ralf Fahrmann is set to keep his place between the sticks despite losing his place in the starting XI to youngster Alexander Nubel.

Man City vs Schalke - Football tactics and formations

Key Battles

The two goals scored by Schalke at the Veltins came from the unlikely source of Nabil Bentaleb. They’ll have to limit the number of penalties they give away this time if they want to make life easier for themselves.

Raheem Sterling has been on fire for the Cityzens of late, bagging a hat-trick last time out against Watford in the league. He also scored a stunning breakaway winner in the 90th minute in the first leg, so Schalke should look to man mark the Englishman out of the game.

Former Schalke player Leroy Sane is once again a danger man. He’s contributed the most to this City side in the Champions League this season with three goals and two assists. His smashed in a sensational free kick in Gelsenkirchen and will be looking to add another at the Etihad.

Match Odds

City are resounding favourites to pick up yet another win at 1/7 and sitting at 1/200 to qualify.

Schalke are massive underdogs at 22/1 to win tonight, and further out to make it through to the next round at 25/1.

They’ll need to win by two, and a 2-0 Schalke win is priced at 150/1.

Aguero opened the scoring in Gelsenkirchen, and he’s 5/2 favourite to net first again. He’s priced at 6/10 to score anytime, and if you think he’ll bag himself a few, he’s 13/5 to score two or more.

Sterling is 19/20 to score anytime, with Sane at 7/5 anytime.

Bentaleb scored twice in the home tie, and he’s priced at 100/1 to score two or more again.

Schalke’s most likely source of goals is Breel Embolo. He’s 16/1 to open the scoring, or 9/2 anytime.

Click here for the latest Man City v Schalke odds

Big match previews, betting tips and transfer news – Coral has it all.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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Author

Drew Goodsell

Drew is a journalism graduate who closely follows American sports, focussing on the NBA and NFL. He also has a keen interest in all things football, paying regular attention to the Premier League, Bundesliga and Ligue 1.