Up next for Manchester City in their quest for a treble, and even possibly still a quadruple, is a UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash at FC Schalke tonight. Man City are currently the overall favorites in the entire UCL competition, and thus massively favored in this contest at the Bundesliga side.
Four days after the trip to Germany, City will get their first chance to clinch initial piece of 2018-19 silverware when they take on Chelsea in the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Having a chance at glory in several competitions, this late in the season, presents a unique set of challenges for City manager Pep Guardiola to deal with.
Guardiola met the media Tuesday to preview this clash and discuss the road ahead.
The press conference video is embedded above. Let’s take a look at the fitness situation for City.
The visitors will be without long term absentee Claudio Bravo, as the back-up goalkeeper is still recovering from an Achilles injury. Team captain and defender Vincent Kompany is out due to a prolonged muscle problem.
Meanwhile Benjamin Mendy made a brief return from a knee injury against Burton, but hasn’t featured since.
Manchester City at FC Schalke FYIs
Kick-off: Wednesday February 20, Veltins Arena, 8pm (BST), 2pm (CST)
Manchester City Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Odds via Betfair: Manchester City 1/4, Draw 5/1, FC Schalke 10/1
Google Result Probability: Manchester City win 74%, Draw 16%, FC Schalke win 10%
Form Guide: Schalke: LWLDWD Man City: WWWLWW
Prediction: Manchester City 3, FC Schalke 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.