Dynamo Kiev vs Manchester City Prediction and Preview – 24/02/16
Champions League preview – Dynamo Kiev vs Manchester City prediction.
Dynamo Kiev will risk leading scorer Andriy Yarmolenko in the first leg of their Champions League tie against Manchester City on Wednesday. The winger has been out of action for two months with a knee injury sustained against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the last group match in December. Left back Vitorino Antunes is suspended and coach Serhiy Rebrov may prefer to deploy versatile central defender Domagoj Vida at full back instead of the inexperienced Evgen Makarenko. Back up goalkeeper Oleksandr Rybka is out injured.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany came through unscathed in his return match at Tottenham a week past Sunday and will have benefited from his first full game since 8 November. Bacary Sagna is struggling to overcome a knee problem which could open the door for Pablo Zabaleta to make his 8th start of the season. Kevin de Bruyne, Jesus Navas, Wilfried Bony, Samir Nasri and Eliaquim Mangala are unavailable due to injury.
Possible Line-ups
Dynamo Kiev 4-2-3-1 formation: Shovkovskiy; Silva, Khacheridi, Dragovic, Vida; Sydorchuk, Rybalka; Yarmolenko, Garmash, Gonzalez; Moraes
Manchester City 4-2-3-1 formation: Hart; Zabaleta, Otamendi,Kompany, Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho; Silva, Toure, Sterling; Aguero
Statistics
- Dynamo Kiev have won 5 drawn 2 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Manchester City have won 5 drawn 2 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Dynamo Kiev have scored an average of 1.2 goals and conceded an average of 0.9 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Manchester City have scored an average of 2 goals and conceded an average of 1.3 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Dynamo Kiev’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 8 of Manchester City’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Kiev progressed from a Champions League group which included winners Chelsea, Porto (3rd) and Maccabi Tel Aviv (4th). Rebrov’s side went unbeaten at the Olympic Stadium but only won one of those three games, the 1-0 victory over Maccabi which clinched qualification. Kiev’s biggest issue is the lack of competitive games due to the long winter break in Ukraine and they have been restricted to playing friendlies since 9 December.
Manchester City finished top of Group D despite losing twice to runners up Juventus. They won the other four fixtures against Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach in what was the most difficult of the qualifying groups. On the domestic front, City’s challenge for the Premier League crown has suffered from successive defeats at home to title rivals Leicester and Tottenham. The 5-1 defeat at Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday is best overlooked as Manuel Pellegrini rested 8 first team regulars in readiness for the trip to Ukraine.
Kiev will be missing the edge that comes with competitive action and this could allow Manchester City to return to winning ways.
Tips
Manchester City at 13/10 with William Hill
Over 2.5 goals at 11/10 with Paddy Power
Manchester City to win 2-1 at 19/2 with BetVictor
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