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FC Basel will host Manchester City in Round 16 of the Champions League, as the competition finally resumes after the Winter Break.
Basel had a marvelous campaign in the group stages, finishing with 4 wins and 2 losses in a group which also featured Manchester United, Benfica and CSKA Moscow. It was the best record Basel ever had in the Champions League group stage, but they paid the price for it domestically, where they are 5 points behind league leaders Young Boys – and are in danger of losing the title for the first time in 9 years. Since the Swiss league resumed a few weeks ago, Basel has one win and one loss.
With the Premier League title virtually on lock, Manchester City will direct their full attention to the Champions League in this second half of the season, and they will surely feel they have a good chance to get past Basel in this tie. City has been exceptional this season in all competitions under Guardiola, and they cruised in the UCL group stages, finishing with 15 points (only dropping the last match when everything was decided). The visitors are on the back of a 5-1 win over Leicester, their 5th win in the last 6 games.
Bet on Basel vs. Man City and claim your 100% (100 Euro) freebet at Ohmbet now!Team news & lineups:
Vailati is injured for Basel, and Zuffi is questionable. City won`t be able to count on Mendy and Jesus, while Delph, Sane and Silva are questionable.
FC Basel: Vaclik – Lang, Suchy, Balanta, Petretta – Die, Xhaka – Stocker, Elyounoussi, Bua – Oberlin
Manchester City: Ederson – Walker, Kompany, Stones, Danilo – Fernandinho – D. Silva, De Bruyne, B. Silva, Sterling – Aguero
While Basel has been great in the UCL group stage and is deserving of great respect, the hosts did show plenty of weaknesses in Switzerland, and aren`t such a scary team.
Basel will surely put up a big fight at home, and will draw confidence from their 1-0 win against Manchester United, which they claimed earlier in the competition. However, you have to feel that Manchester City will have too much even for a determined and well organized Swiss side.
The fact that the visitors have the Premier League title on lock will be a big factor in their Champions League campaign, as they can approach every match with full focus and determination, and that should be the case here as well. In these conditions, it`s hard to see Basel stopping a freight train like Man City.
The Citizens have been unrelentless this season and will surely like to claim a decisive advantage in the first leg. An away win seems likely and logical, and if the visitors have a good game they could build up a good scoreline as well.
My tip is Manchester City to cover the -1 asian handicap, a simple bet at unimpressive odds, but which should be pretty safe. Odds on this asian handicap are going down. Prediction: FC Basel – Manchester City 0-2.
Pick: Man City (-1 Asian Handicap)
Odds: 1.53 @ 18Bet
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 4.24
Event date: 13 February
