Manchester City v Barcelona predictions, tips, lineups and free bets (Champions League - 24/2/2015)

Tuesday, 24 February 2015 14:39
Written by David Bet

Manchester City are outsiders when they host Spanish giants Barcelona for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 clash on Tuesday night. Find here our MANCHESTER CITY v BARCELONA betting preview including betting tips, predictions, probable lineups, enhanced odds, line-ups, bookie offers and no deposit bonuses on the match!

MANCHESTER CITY v BARCELONA BETTING PREVIEW

Man City have been unable to live up to the billing in Europe’s elite competition in the last three seasons. They have crashed out in the group stage two times in a row and then they were knocked out by the Catalans from last year’s competition with a 4-1 aggregate score. This term the Citizens finished as distant runners up to Bayern Munich in a tough group which also included Roma and CSKA. Anyway, they will enter the match full of confidence as they cut the gap to Premier League leaders Chelsea to five points with a 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle at the weekend.

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The Citizens will be without Yaya Toure as the Ivorian was sent off in Manchester City’s 2-1 home defeat to CSKA Moscow in the group stage. Pellegrini is hoping James Milner will recover from a knee problem in time. Fernando and Fernandinho will play in central midfield.

Barcelona were beaten at home by Malaga against all odds and that was the shock of the weekend. Prior to that loss Barca had been Europe’s form side, with 42 goals scored in those 12 matches, which included three wins (3-1, 1-0 and 3-2) over last season’s La Liga winners and Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid. The Blaugrana have topped their Champions League qualification group ahead of PSG despite a 3-2 loss in Paris.

The lethal front three of Neymar, Messi and Suarez will continue to lead the line. Xavi, Busquets and Rakitic are likely to form the starting midfielders trio. Jordi Alba is expected to recover from a minor knock while only Thomas Vermaelen and Douglas Pereira are out through injury.

Barcelona have conceded just five goals in the competition this year while City’s defence remains utterly unconvincing, having conceded eight goals in six Champions League matches this season, including five in three games at the Etihad.

MANCHESTER CITY v BARCELONA PROBABLE LINEUPS

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart – Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy – Fernando, Fernandinho – Nasri, Silva, Milner – Aguero.

Barcelona (4-3-3): Bravo – Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba – Xavi, Busquets, Rakitic – Messi, Suarez, Neymar.