by Ian S. Palmer
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Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kyiv have their backs against the wall in their two-legged, European Champions League round-of-16 showdown against English Premier League side Manchester City. Dynamo was beaten soundly 3-1 at home in the first leg on February 23 and must now try to turn things around at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester this Tuesday, March 15. Neither side has won a Champions League title as of yet and both are hoping to change that this year. Man City is also hoping to reach the quarterfinals for the very first time while Dynamo is aiming to win on English soil for the first time.
Bet on Manchester City vs Dynamo Kyiv – Pinnacle Sports Soccer BETTING LINE:
- Pinnacle Sports currently lists Manchester City as the favorites at -173 with Dynamo +521 and a draw also at +343
Manchester City vs Dynamo Kyiv – Head to Head:
- The two sides met in the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League’s round of 16 stage with Kyiv winning 2-0 at home and Man City taking their home contest 1-0. They met in the first leg of this tie with Man City taking a 3-1 victory in Kyiv.
Man City heads into the match in fourth place in the Premier League with 51 points from 15 wins, six draws and eight losses. They’ve scored a league-high 52 goals and allowed 31 against. Man City is nine points behind league-leading Leicester City with nine games to go in the season and two ahead of fifth-place West Ham United. City needs to hold onto their top-four position or win this season’s Champions League to qualify for the tournament again in 2016/17. City is expected to be without the injured Samir Nasri, Fabian Delph and Kevin de Bruyne. They enter this match after playing to a 0-0 away draw with lowly Norwich City on Saturday and have lost four of their last eight fixtures in all competitions.
Kyiv is currently sitting in first place in the Ukrainian Premier League with 16 wins, a draw and just one loss for 49 points. They’re three points ahead of second-place Shakhtar Donetsk. Kyiv has scored 41 goals in the domestic league and allowed a league-low seven against. Kyiv finished the Champions League group stage in second place in Group G behind England’s Chelsea. They had three wins, two draws and a loss for 11 points with eight goals scored and four allowed. Man City won Group D with four wins and two losses for 12 points. They scored 12 times and conceded eight. Antunes missed the first game in this series for Kyiv due to suspension, but is back while Morozyuk, Yarmolenko, Sydorchuk and Rybka are all doubtful due to injuries. Kyiv is coming off of a 2-1 away win against Karpaty last Friday.
Man City has reached the round of 16 for the very first time and Kyiv is hoping to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since the 1998/99 campaign. It’s the first time Kyiv has reached the last 16 since 1999/2000. Changes to Dynamo’s Champions League squad include the addition of Oleksandr Yakovenko, Nikita Korzun and Artur Rudko while Artem Kravets, Younes Belhanda and Niko Kranjcar were dropped. For Man City, 19-year-old Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho has been added and the injured Samir Nasri has been dropped.
Dynamo can force extra time in this series with a 3-1 win after 90 minutes, but a 2-0 victory won’t be enough. They will advance if they can win by two goals and score at least twice in the game. Of course, a draw or loss will see Man City advance. Man City has won their last two Champions League home outings, but have lost all three previous two-legged ties in the Champions League. The English team is 2-0 in European shootouts though while Dynamo is 1-0. Dynamo won two of their three road matches in the group stage this season, but they’re winless overall in England with two draws and 11 losses.