This Tuesday Manchester City will host the French side Monaco in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Date: Tuesday, 21st of February

Time: 7:45 p.m.

Venue: Etihad Stadium

Referee: Antonio Mateu

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola’s Man City returned their consistency and look very sharp and dangerous. The winter signing Gabriel Jesus has brought sharpness to the Citizens’ attack and a fresh pair of feet to the frontline.However the Brazilian is out of this fixture, as he sustained an injury during the clash with Bournemouth.

Manchester City have won 4 of their last 5 games and are now 2nd in the Premier League, 8 points away from Chelsea. But Guardiola will be looking for a much-improved performance from City’s draw against Championship side Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday. The Argentinian Sergio Aguero will probably be the number 1 choice striker for the match.

“I am sad and also I am sad for him. we miss them [Gundogan and Jesus] a lot, it’s tough for them. But we had seven strikers, we are going to use another one and of course Sergio [Aguero] will be so important for us.”, noted the 46-year-old manager.

Despite the great form in England, Manchester City struggles in Europe. The Sky Blues have won just one of their five games in the Champions League.

AS Monaco

The Red and Whites are having a good season so far. Monaco tops the French Ligue 1 leaving the current champions PSG on the second place. A big part of this success comes with the Colombian Radamel Falcao. The 31-year-old striker returned to his best, scoring 16 goals in the league so far, after two not so successful spells in the Premier League with Manchester United and Chelsea.

Leonardo Jardim’s team is undefeated in the last 5 games, and despite the 1-1 draw with Bastia still look sharp and dangerous.

Gabriel Boschilia is out of this fixture due to cruciate injury.

Considering both teams’ striking talent this match promises to be intense and entertaining. Monaco will be looking to score that precious away goal and keep their keeper out of trouble. Manchester City will try to kill any chance of a comeback in the second leg by dominating at home. However, both teams will do their best not to concede and give advantage to the opposition.

Possible starting XIs

Manchester City: Caballero; Sagna, Stones, Otamendi, Clichy; Toure, De Bruyne, Silva; Sterling, Aguero, Sane

Monaco: Subasic; Toure, Glik, Jemerson, Mendy; Bernardo Silva, Fabinho, Moutinho, Lemar; Falcao, Germain