Manchester City vs. Gladbach: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
The chances of Manchester City topping Group D are slim, but going into Matchday 6 it is still possible.
If the Blues can beat Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday and Juventus lose away at Sevilla, then Manuel Pellegrini’s side will finish first in their Champions League group for the first time since entering the competition in 2011.
The hope inside the Etihad Stadium is that winning the group will ensure an easier last-16 tie than the ones they have been handed in the last two seasons, where both times they have faced Barcelona.
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The German side come into the match in excellent form, with their early-season struggles now firmly behind them. Their 3-1 win over Bayern Munich at the weekend says everything about their current hot streak.
They now sit third in the Bundesliga table, despite losing their first five games of the campaign. They have won eight of their last 10 league matches.
"Mönchengladbach's form since losing to City in September: WWDWWWDDWWDW On Saturday they beat Bayern Munich 3-1. pic.twitter.com/AmTFf2TZY3
— City Watch (@City_Watch) December 7, 2015"
Conversely, City are struggling. Their 2-0 defeat away at Stoke City on Saturday was a worry. Their performance was inadequate, and Pellegrini needs a reaction from his players.
"Manuel Pellegrini on the lack of recovery time contributing to injuries. #MCFC pic.twitter.com/aaMH03u8ep
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 7, 2015"
Date: Tuesday, December 8
Kick-off: 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET
TV Listings: BT Sport 2 (UK) & Fox Sports GO, ESPN Deportes+, Fox Soccer 2GO, Fox Sports 2, ESPN3 (US)
Live Stream: BT Sport Live Streaming (UK)
Form Guide (Last five results)
Manchester City
Stoke City 2-0 Manchester City
Manchester City 4-1 Hull City (League Cup)
Manchester City 3-1 Southampton
Juventus 1-0 Manchester City
Manchester City 1-4 Liverpool
Borussia Monchengladbach
Gladbach 3-1 Bayern Munich
Hoffenheim 3-3 Gladbach
Gladbach 4-2 Sevilla
Gladbach 2-1 Hannover 96
Gladbach 0-0 FC Ingolstadt 04
".@borussia boss believes win over @FCBayern proves they can beat #MCFC. Read: https://t.co/mZB9DPUEnI #cityvbmg pic.twitter.com/XnyoosE6xu
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 7, 2015"
Predicted Formations
Manchester City
City are still without Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Samir Nasri. Fernando will also miss out with a minor hamstring problem and Martin Demichelis is also out. Yaya Toure is back, though, as is Eliaquim Mangala, who missed the defeat to Stoke through suspension. Kelechi Iheanacho is ineligible.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Clichy; Fernandinho, Delph, Toure; De Bruyne, Silva, Aguero.
"Pellegrini confirms @yayatoure is back but rules six #mcfc players out of #cityvbmg. Read: https://t.co/mZB9DQcffg pic.twitter.com/m84JVlH5hb
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 7, 2015"
Gladbach
The in-form Bundesliga side are also somewhat depleted, with Alvaro Dominguez, Martin Stranzl, Andre Hahn, Patrick Herrmann and Nico Schulz all missing.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Korb, Christensen, Elvedi, Wendt; Dahoud, Xhaka; Traore, Raffael, Johnson; Stindl.
Players To Watch
Manchester City: Fernandinho
The energy Fernandinho brings to the City side has been key this season, and he has perhaps been their best player since the beginning of the campaign.
Quite why he was withdrawn early at Stoke on Saturday is a mystery, and the away fans made their feelings known.
He and Fabian Delph, who is expected to start this one, have been forging a decent understanding, with their industry and stamina proving impressive in tandem.
Gladbach: Raffael
Gladbach's 30-year-old Brazilian forward Raffael is their undoubted danger man, as shown in the first game between the two sides earlier this season. He created a number of chances for himself, with Joe Hart keeping him at bay.
In his 15 Bundesliga matches this season he's scored six and assisted eight. It's a superb record that underlines his ability.
His ability to dribble with the ball and retain possession is his most marked skill. City need to learn the lesson of the game in September and pay close attention to Raffael.
Key Battle
Kevin De Bruyne vs. Oscar Wendt
Kevin De Bruyne has made a sensational start to life as a City player, scoring nine goals and assisting eight in just 17 appearances.
His ability to produce vital moments in the final third has added a new edge to the City forward line.
He is likely to be up against Oscar Wendt, Gladbach's 30-year-old Swedish left-back who has been in excellent form this season.
Minimising De Bruyne's impact is difficult, but Wendt, who is an experienced and very often excellent defender, must find a way.
""This is an opportunity for us to react quickly," says @DeBruyneKev. Read: https://t.co/doYwDffEli #cityvbmg #mcfc pic.twitter.com/JcWsJkSRCB
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 7, 2015"
Odds (via Odds Shark)
City: -179
Gladbach: +473
Draw: +310
Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.
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