FC Basel v Manchester City Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 13th February 7.45pm
FC Basel who finished second in the group stage campaign to Manchester United, get another shot against English opposition as they face up to one of the tournament favourites, Man City in the first knockout stage. The Swiss side did take a home win over Man Utd on match day five, so a warning there for the Citizens perhaps? City are heavy odds-on favourites to win the match and they will want to ensure that they have a comfortable passage through by starting in a positive manner in the round of sixteen.
FC Basel News and Form
FC Basel did take a 1-0 home win over Manchester United in the group stage. That was after losing 3-0 at Old Trafford though. Still, those points saw Basel get their best ever tally in a Champions League group stage campaign, getting through in second place behind Man Utd. This is the third time that Basel have been in the round of sixteen, with them having failed to make it past the stage in either of their two previous visits which were against Bayern Munich and then Porto. Their win over Benfica back on match day two in the group stage this season snapped a nine-match winless streak of form that they were on in Europe (D3 L6) and at home in their group stage campaign, they posted a W2 L1 record, the loss there happening against CSKA Moscow.
Basel have suffered three defeats in their last five European fixtures at St. Jakob-Park and in their last ten at home in Europe, they have only gone W3 D3 L4. It’s better reading for them if you look at them having lost only six of their last 25 home games in Europe since since the start of 2013/14. Basel’s record in two-legged knockout ties against English clubs is W1 L4. Overall their record against English sides is W7 D8 L13 (W6 D3 L5 at home) and they were on a three-match losing streak at home against English sides before beating Man Utd this term. Both teams to score at William Hill is at 4/5 odds* (Betting Odds taken on February 8th, 2018 at 7:36 p.m.).
Man City News and Form
Manchester City are one of the front runners then, one of the main contenders to get the title in their hands during this season of the Champions League. At this stage last season they went up against Monaco and it produced one of the most stunning ties ever with the French side managing to get through on away goals after a crazy 6-6 aggregate. For Manchester City that was their third loss in this sage of the competition, having exited at the round of sixteen in the 2013/14 and 2014/15 campaigns against Barcelona. So they have only been beyond this stage once before and that was in the 2015/16 season when they took out Dynamo Kiev to progress. This will be Man City’s first-ever game against Swiss opposition. The Citizens rolled out five wins from their opening five games in this season’s group stage before losing their dead rubber on match day six out at FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Their other two away games in the group saw then beat Feyenoord 4-0 and Napoli 4-2. It may well be worth looking over 2.5 goals which is at 8/15 with William Hill* (Betting Odds taken on February 8th, 2018 at 7:36 p.m.). Kevin de Bruyne is available after his one-match ban. Sergio Aguero, who has been in cracking goal scoring form 2018 is the first goalscorer favourite.
FC Basel v Manchester City Head to Head
This will be the first ever meeting between the two clubs.
FC Basel v Manchester City Betting Odds*
Man City 4/11, Draw 19/5, Basel 15/2* (Betting Odds taken on February 8th, 2018 at 7:36 p.m.)
FC Basel v Manchester City Predictions
Manchester City should get the job done in this one. FC Basel haven’t been carrying great home form in Europe against English sides recently and Pep Guardiola’s men can hit the road and build themselves a comfortable cushion in the match. Man City to win and both teams to score though still.
