Manchester City vs Basel 08/03/18

08 March 2018

Maybe the best side in Europe for the time being, Manchester City, will host the struggling Swiss giants, Basel, in the second leg of the Champions League knockout stage looking for another ‘easy’ victory after they’ve demolished the RotBlau at the St. Jakob-Park with four goals to nil. The Citizens are ruthless at home, having won their last nineteen games at the Etihad Stadium in all competition, with +50 goal difference. Pep Guardiola’s team has almost secured the title in the Premier League and already clinched the Carabao Cup title, but their primary objective is lifting Europe’s most prestigious trophy. Basel have had a turbulent season in their respective championship losing almost any hope of closing the gap on Young Boys, and another moral crushing defeat could devastate them ahead of the final phase of the season.

Guardiola still can’t count on Benjamin Mendy and Fernandinho, while Raheem Sterling’s return to action remains uncertain. Gabriel Jesus played a couple of minutes against Chelsea and Arsenal after returning from injury, and he could start from the first minute. The visitors will arrive in England without the injured goalkeeper, Germano Vailati, and the centre-back, Eder Balanta, as well as the suspended Taulant Xhaka.