Manchester City v Dynamo Kiev preview: Yaya Toure to return for Champions League tie
Tuesday 15 March 2016 20:33, UK
Yaya Toure is set to return as Manchester City attempt to complete the job against Dynamo Kiev and make it through to their first ever Champions League quarter-final.
The Ivory Coast international missed the goalless draw at Norwich on Saturday with a foot injury, but trained with his team-mates on Monday morning ahead of the last-16 clash.
Manuel Pellegrini's side are in pole position heading into the second leg of the tie, having won 3-1 in Ukraine last month.
"The most important thing is to know we have not yet qualified. We play against a team who know how to play this type of game," Pellegrini said in his pre-match press conference.
"We're not going to play with the score we got in Kiev, we're just going to say it's 0-0 and try to win the game."
Team news
Aside from Toure's return, City have no fresh injury concerns following the game at Carrow Road.
Long-term casualties Kevin De Bruyne, Samir Nasri and Fabian Delph are the only definite absentees from the game at the Etihad Stadium.
Ukrainian league leaders Dynamo Kiev have no fresh injury worries ahead of the trip.
Opta stats
Manchester City have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League for the third consecutive season. They have never made it past the Last 16 though, being knocked out by Barcelona in each of the last two campaigns.
Among the 16 teams left, Man City are the only side yet to register a clean sheet in the Champions League this season.
Manchester City have scored more goals than any other team in the final 15 minutes of games in the Champions League this season (6).
Manchester City have picked up five cards in seven games this season (all yellows), the lowest total of any team in the competition this season.
Dynamo Kiev have won only four of their last 34 Champions League away games (D7 L23).
Sergio Aguero has scored 16 goals in his last 17 Champions League starts.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
This one is already done. Kiev to score three goals? It doesn't happen for me. They will be a bit like Arsenal, just happy not to get thrashed.
I see it being a comfortable night with Sergio Aguero doing the business again, but City have to get more from David Silva, who hasn't produced since he's come back from injury, and Yaya Toure. They must have some anger in them for a backlash as it was criminal how badly they were at Norwich on Saturday. They owe their fans.
They've been so disappointing for the ability they have and building some momentum is a must if they are to salvage anything from this season.
Charlie predicts: 2-0 and Aguero to score twice (65/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Manchester City are 4/7 shots with Sky Bet to win the second leg, with Dynamo Kiev priced at 19/4 and the draw 3/1. City are even shorter odds to progress to the quarter-finals and 14/1 to go on and lift the trophy, with the Ukrainian outfit 16/1 to overturn the first-leg deficit. First goalscorer favourite Sergio Aguero netted the opener in Kiev and is Price Boosted to 6/4 to score in a City win in 90 minutes.
