Borussia Monchengladbach Vs Manchester City
Borussia Monchengladbach Vs Manchester City Wednesday 24th February 2021 – 20:00 (BT Sport)
UEFA Champions League, Round of 16
Pick: Man City Win & Both Teams to Score
Odds: 7/4
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 21st February 2021)
Preview: In a contest taking place on neutral ground over in Hungary, Borussia Monchengladbach go searching for a first win against Manchester City, who have won three of the four previous meetings held between the sides, at the fifth attempt in this Round of 16 Champions League first-leg.
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Table of Contents
Monchengladbach – Foals fortunate to still be involved?
In each of the last two seasons the German club would navigate the group stage in Europe with an identical record: W2 D2 L2. However, unlike in 2019/20, when it was only good enough for third in the Europa League, this time around they just about squeezed through to the last-sixteen of the Champions League, and deserve credit for doing so in a competitive section that included Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Consequently, The Foals are competing at this stage for the first time in over 40 years, in what will be their first taste of knockout football in the Champions League era. And having come through arguably the trickiest section, they now come face-to-face with the outright favourites – an opponent boasting the upper hand, Gladbach losing three of four (D1) competitive head-to-heads between the sides.
On three occasions, though, it was the Germans who established a lead, only to be pegged back each time. The same fate befell them in this season’s group stage, leading but conceding late in 2-2 draws with Inter Milan and Real Madrid. That same pair would later win the reverse encounters, as Marco Rose’s side leaned heavily on their back-to-back triumphs over Shakhtar Donetsk for the bulk of their points.
Man City – Pep’s imperious charges unlikely to be halted?
For a seventh consecutive season, Manchester City are participating in the last-sixteen of the Champions League and will be looking to build on a positive record comprising four wins and three defeats at this stage. The Cityzens would triumph over two legs in each of the last three, eliminating another German outfit, Schalke, 10-2 on aggregate in 2017/18, while last season it was 13-time European Cup winners Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola’s men will therefore require some stopping, particularly if the club’s record 17-game winning run across all competitions holds up. Sunday’s gritty 1-0 win at Arsenal the latest in a long line of successes stretching back to 15 December – scoring 47 for the loss of just six goals. Moreover, none of their past 24 opponents could breach this settled and stoic City backline on more than one occasion.
Standards have slipped recently though, with three of their last five opponents finding the back of the net. City would also concede on both previous visits to Germany when facing Gladbach – in a 2-1 win in 2015/16 and 1-1 draw the following season. Regardless, they will back themselves to establish a first-leg advantage, having won nine of their past fourteen away European matches (D2 L3).
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Borussia Monchengladbach Vs Manchester City Betting Advice
Marco Rose and his plucky Gladbach side had their moments in the group, notably recording their biggest margin of victory ever in the Champions League. Yet they ultimately fell short in their toughest match-ups, taking two points across clashes with Inter Milan and Real Madrid, and now find themselves taking on the runaway Premier League leaders who have not put a foot out of place in more than three months.
Borussia Monchengladbach Vs Man City – Key Facts:
- Currently eighth in Germany, Gladbach are without a win in their last three efforts (D1 L2) facing Premier League leaders Man City who are seeking an 18th-straight win.
- The German side top-scored in Group B (W2 D2 L2, GF16 GA9), netting three more goals than Man City managed on their way to easily topping Group B (W5 D1, GF13 GA1).
- Wednesday’s contest will represent the fifth between the clubs in European competition, with City prevailing on three of their four previous encounters (W3 D1).
In truth, Gladbach profited in the group from others, namely Inter, not living up to their billing. In sharp contrast, Man City won five of six matches and were miserly throughout (one conceded). Furthermore, the current Premier League leaders are on a 17-match winning streak, and are meeting a team without a win in three (D1 L2). The Germans do tend to score, though, obliging in 29 of their 32 fixtures in 2020/21.
Best Betting Odds – Borussia Monchengladbach vs Manchester City
Borussia Monchengladbach – 15/2 (Betfair)
Draw – 9/2 (Bet365)
Manchester City – 4/11 (Betway)
