Manchester City vs Basel LIVE: Champions League round-of-16 second leg!
All the latest from the Champions League fixture at The Etihad
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester City host Basel in the second leg of their last-16 tie, with Pep Guardiola hopeful that the 4-0 lead held by City from their impressive first leg display will be enough to see them through to the Champions League quarter-finals.
City, who could welcome the return of striker Gabriel Jesus after a lengthy lay-off with injury, are in scintillating form both domestically and in Europe, with their three first half goals in the first-leg in Switzerland attesting to their excellent attacking form.
Basel currently sit second in the Swiss Super League, though they were unable to translate their league form into Europe when they took on City, and with Guardiola able to call on a wide array of attacking and defensive recruits coupled with the league being all but confirmed for the Citizens, the Spaniard will be expected to name a full strength side for the Champions League clash on Wednesday.
With an 18 point lead at the top of the table, prior to United playing Crystal Palace on Monday night, City will be looking at the game against Basel as a routine demolition task, and with the possibility of a treble still on the cards for Guardiola’s side, success on Wednesday night is an important part of their 2017/18 quest for outright domestic and European domination.
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Match preview
It’s a big game for...
Sergio Aguero. Despite a four goal haul against Leicester, Aguero has not scored in three of his last four Premier League games. With the impending return to fitness of Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus, Wednesday night is a chance for Aguero to reassure Guardiola that he is the striker to be leading the line for the Citizens, and having passed 200 goals for the Sky Blues last week, Aguero will be hungry for goals against Basel.
Best stat...
Manchester City are the fifth highest scorers in the 2017/18 Champions League, with 18 goals. Of the five highest scoring teams, Liverpool, PSG, Madrid and Bayern, they have the highest number of different goal-scorers.
Remember when…
In the first ever clash between these two sides in the first leg, City tore apart Basel with a 4-0 victory. Relive the goals, moments and action from the game.
Player to watch…
Kevin De Bruyne. City’s Belgian wizard has been in outstanding form in 2017/18, and he has been showing his pedigree on the stage of Champions League football too. With seven goals and 16 assists in the league, De Bruyne has the ability to shine for Guardiola’s side, and with a habit of stepping up in the big games, Wednesday could yet mark another stunning performance from what has been undoubtedly City’s player of the season.
Past meetings…
- Basel 0 Manchester City 4 (Gundogan 2, B Silva 1, Aguero 1), Champions League, February 2018
Form guide…
- Manchester City: WWLWWW
- Basel: WLWLLL
Odds…
- Manchester City to win: 1/7
- Basel to win: 8/1
- Draw: 18/1
16 mins: Now Juve want a penalty and this looks the best shout yet! Costa galloped into the box from the right and went down as Jan Vertonghten mistimed his sliding tackle. It looked clearcut in real time, but again the Polish official dismisses claims. The Italian side are absolutely furious.
23 mins: Son and Kane are seeing plenty of the ball in this first half as Spurs continually try to launch quick attacks down either flank. Chiellini and co are up against it at the back for the Juventus, but the central defender has made a career of last gasp sliding challenges and perfectly executes another to deny the South Korean in this latest break.
28 mins: Jan Vertonghen avoided conceding a penalty moments ago, but he's not going to escape a booking for clattering Dybala on the far touchline. The Belgian defender is the first to be cautioned this evening.
30 mins: Half hour gone at Wembley and other than their strong shouts for a spotkick, Juventus have given Tottenham little to worry about. Remember, the Italians must score this evening if they are to progress after Spurs notched two away goals in Turin.
32 mins: Son and Barzagli jump for an aerial ball and, as the pair land, they exchange swipes at each other with their trailing boots. Thankfully for both players, they missed their intended target and the referee missed the incident.
35 mins: It's one apiece now in terms of yellow cards. Alex Sandro follows Vertonghen into the book after clipping the heel of Kieran Trippier. It's a harsh decision considering Son and Barzagli have just got away with trying to boot each other up the arse.
38 mins: Close! The best opportunity of the first half is all Son's own work as he escapes down the left to enter the box, sells Chiellini a dummy, only to roll his shot the wrong side of Buffon's far post.
39 mins: GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1 JUVENTUS 0: (Agg 3-2)
This time, Heung-Min Son scores! It wasn't the South Korean's best effort, but it has found the back of the net and Tottenham lead on aggregate! A beautifully weighted Christian Eriksen pass had Dele Alli galloping into the box, and although Giorgio Chiellini blocked the youngster, the ball ran for Kieran Trippier. The Spurs wing-back sent a low centre across the six-yard box for Son, who didn't connect properly but connected enough. With Gianluigi Buffon grounded, the shot span, bobbled and did just enough to beat the goalkeeper. Wembley erupts and Juventus now need two!
44 mins: A bad couple of minutes for Miralem Pjanic. The Bosnian was off target with an effort straight from the restart that could have brought the visitors level and now he's received a yellow card that will keep him out of the quarter-finals should Juventus somehow progress. The midfielder was cautioned for fouling Dele Alli.
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