FC Schalke 04 vs. Manchester City
- What: Champions League last-16 first leg
- When: Wednesday 20 February
- Where: Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
- Kick-off time: 8pm (GMT)
- TV and live stream: BT Sport
Manchester City are heavy favourites to qualify for the Uefa Champions League quarter-finals but manager Pep Guardiola has called on his side to “control their emotions” in the two-legged last-16 tie against FC Schalke 04.
Guardiola’s team are also tipped by the bookies to lift the Champions League trophy in June and are still in contention for the Premier League, FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.
Speaking ahead of the Champions League away clash in Germany, the Spanish coach said: “It is a special competition, we have to control our emotions. We are confident and it is important to score an away goal.”
Underdogs
Schalke head coach Domenico Tedesco knows his team are not fancied but he has warned City they will give it their all over the two legs.
Tedesco said: “There is nothing like a knockout match in the Champions League against a team that is one of the best in the world.
“We’ve worked a lot to be able to play such a game and have fun. Logically, we see a chance of winning, but of course we aren’t the favourites.
“Manchester City are a very strong team, we will need a red-letter day and have to give it our all.”
Schalke defender Matija Nastasic played for City from 2012 to 2015 and tonight he will be up against former team-mate Sergio Aguero, who has scored two hat-tricks in his past three games. The Serbian said: “We’re underdogs but I still think we have a chance.”
TV and live stream details
The match at the Veltins-Arena kicks-off at 8pm and is live on BT Sport 2, coverage begins at 7pm. BT Sport will also show a live stream of the game on its website and app. Wednesday night’s other match between Atletico Madrid and Juventus will be live on BT Sport 3.
When is the second leg?
The Champions League last-16 second leg between Man City and Schalke will take place on Tuesday 12 March at the Etihad Stadium.
Team news and possible starting XIs
Schalke team news
The Daily Express reports that the Bundesliga side will be without Omar Mascarell because of suspension while Breel Embolo and Steven Skrzybski are short of fitness. Alessandro Schopf (knee) remains on the long-term injury list.
Sebastian Rudy and Benjamin Stambouli will miss the second leg at the Etihad should they receive a yellow card tonight.
Man City team news
Guardiola has taken a 20-man party to Germany. Club captain Vincent Kompany has travelled but notable absences include Gabriel Jesus and John Stones, who were unable to train yesterday. Fabian Delph and Benjamin Mendy are also left out of the squad.
Sergio Agüero, Nicolás Otamendi and Fernandinho all risk missing the second leg if they are booked in Germany.
Possible starting XIs
How the teams could line up tonight, according to Uefa.com:
- Schalke possible starting XI (4-5-1): Fährmann; Caligiuri, S Sané, Nastasić, Oczipka; McKennie, Bentaleb, Matondo, Uth, Konoplyanka; Burgstaller
- Man City possible starting XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Danilo; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Bernardo; Sterling, Agüero, L Sané
Predictions
Charlie Nicholas, Sky Sports: “It’s a stunning draw for Manchester City. It’s not a game they need to force. Schalke will be just trying to stay in the tie as they don’t want to be going to the Etihad behind. Schalke will play on the counter, even though they are at home, and that suits City. The times that Schalke threaten they will then probably be picked off. City have found a ruthless streak again, they look clinical at the moment, and I think they will have too much for Schalke. Prediction: Schalke 1 Man City 3.”
Sports Mole: “Man City, unbeaten in their last seven Champions League games against German opposition, have been handed a favourable last-16 tie as Schalke have been poor this season and tend to struggle at this stage of the competition. The hosts’ impressive defensive record on the continent does at least offer a little hope that they can keep things tight ahead of the return match next month, but City will still fancy their chances of scoring an away goal or two. Prediction: Schalke 0 Man City 2.”
Schalke 04 vs. Man City betting odds
All prices according to Oddschecker (as of 20 February).
First leg match betting
- Man City to win: 3/10
- Draw: 5/1
- Schalke to win: 27/2
To qualify for the last eight
- Man City: 1/14
- Schalke: 18/1
To win the Champions League
- Man City: 10/3
- Schalke: 300/1
Champions League results, fixtures and TV guide
Last-16 first-leg results
Wednesday 20 February: first-leg fixtures
- Atlético Madrid vs. Juventus (8pm, live on BT Sport 3)
- FC Schalke vs. Manchester City (8pm, live on BT Sport 2)
Last-16 second-leg fixtures
Tuesday 5 March
- Borussia Dortmund vs. Tottenham Hotspur (0-3 on aggregate; 8pm, live on BT Sport)
- Real Madrid vs. Ajax (2-1 on aggregate; 8pm, live on BT Sport)
Wednesday 6 March
- FC Porto vs. Roma (1-2 on aggregate; 8pm, live on BT Sport)
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Manchester United (2-0 on aggregate; 8pm, live on BT Sport)
Tuesday 12 March
- Juventus vs. Atlético Madrid (8pm, live on BT Sport)
- Manchester City vs. FC Schalke (8pm, live on BT Sport)
Wednesday 13 March
- Barcelona vs. Lyon (8pm, live on BT Sport)
- Bayern Munich vs. Liverpool (8pm, live on BT Sport)
