The Champions League quarter-finals will be played this week, with all four English teams remaining in the competition. Two of them will face off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night, as Manchester City travel to face Spurs. These two teams have differing ambitions this season, but they must be looking at this competition as one they can win, now they have reached this stage. In the previous meeting this season, Pep Guardiola’s men came out on top, but this match will have a different atmosphere as it is being held at Spurs’ new stadium. They are scheduled to face each other in the Premier League at the weekend, so they will get to know each other well over these next seven days.
Tottenham did well to qualify for the next round as they beat Borussia Dortmund in both legs. They were tipped to struggle against the Bundesliga side, but they performed well in both legs and they will have a lot of confidence from that. Although Manchester City are a dominant team in England, this isn’t a domestic competition and Spurs need to view it as such. They wouldn’t have wanted to face the league leaders, but they should see it as a tie they can win.
Manchester City have never won the Champions League and that is a feat that needs to be achieved for the owners to feel they have accomplished everything they set out to. Pep Guardiola is considered as the best coach in Europe, but he hasn’t won this competition since 2011. It is an itch that he will want to scratch in his current club. Last season, they were knocked out at this stage by English opposition and they will want to avoid history repeating itself.
Interesting stats
- This is only the second time Tottenham have reached the quarter-final stage of the Champions League. Their only previous time came during the 2010-11 season.
- Manchester City beat Schalke in the previous round by an aggregate score of 10-2. Only one team have achieved a larger winning margin in the Champions League knockout stage.
Key men
Kane
The 25-year-old has developed into one of the world’s best strikers during recent years and he will be desperate to play a starring role in this tie. Tottenham will need their striker to be at his best against Manchester City in all aspects of his game. He will be required to hold the ball up, create chances and take those that come his way. Although they are an excellent team, the visitors shouldn’t be considered unbeatable. Their defence can look shaky at times if they are put under pressure and Spurs must look to be aggressive in their style. In this season’s Champions League. Kane has scored five goals and assisted once. It is an impressive record and one that shows he is the danger man for Tottenham. The added incentive of providing a meaningful moment in the club’s new stadium means that he will be looking to provide the match-winning moment on Tuesday.
Sterling
This has been another excellent season for Raheem Sterling as he becomes a crucial player for both club and country. It is impressive that he continues to improve under Guardiola, with the attacker now one of the first names on the team-sheet. Like his international team-mate Kane, Sterling will see this as an opportunity to cement his reputation on a global stage. The Champions League is the biggest club competition in Europe and he will be looking to make a greater impact in it over the rest of this campaign. The England international has contributed three goals and two assists, but given his form domestically, he will be looking to increase those numbers at the quarter-final stage.
Team news
Eric Dier and Erik Lamela will both be absentees for the home side, but Fernando Llorente shoul be available to offer an option from the bench. Serge Aurier is a doubt, which means Kieran Trippier is likely to start.
Sergio Aguero is facing a battle to be passed fit for this game with Gabriel Jesus on standby. Kyle Walker is a doubt for this contest against his former club, but fellow full-back Benjamin Mendy is expected to start.
Verdict
This is going to be a fascinating contest as the pressure is on Manchester City with the team going for the quadruple. That remains a difficult challenge, but no team has been better placed to complete the achievement. They would have preferred this game to be played at Wembley, as the new stadium provides a different dynamic that could have an impact on the game. Tottenham are the outsiders and that tag could give them freedom in the first leg especially. A score draw in London looks to be a good bet.
Tottenham 1-1 Manchester City
