Manchester City v B. Monchengladbach - Preview

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Manchester City v Borussia Monchengladbach (Etihad Stadium, England) 7:45pm
Possible line-ups
Manchester City: Bravo; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov; Fernandinho; Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva, Sané; Agüero.
Out: Fernando, Delph (both unspecified)
Doubtful: Gundoğan (knee), Kompany (thigh)
Mönchengladbach: Sommer; Elvedi, Christensen, Jantschke; Dahoud, Kramer, Wendt; Traoré, Stindl; Hazard, Raffael.
Out: Doucoure (muscle), Herrmann (adductor)
Doubtful: none
Manchester City get their group stage under way against Borussia Monchengladbach Tuesday night at the Etihad Stadium.
While on the surface, it looks like an easy fixture,  it might not really be as it pitches Pep Guardiola against a coach he has never beaten in his career.
However, fresh off the back of an impressive display against Manchester United in Saturday’s derby at Old Trafford, the jinx should be broken by Guardiola.
Quotes from the managers: Pep Guardiola, City manager
“It was a pleasure to be the coach of Barcelona and Bayern and [with] their history they are used to reaching semis and finals. Manchester City don't have that. [Roberto] Mancini helped us achieve the first step and Manuel did a really good job to reach the semi-finals. We have big, big targets in the Champions League.”
With no stress, Guardiola  navigated his side through their qualifier this summer but the group stage has constantly been City’s sticking point.
City topped their group ahead of Juventus last season but it was the first time they had managed it since 2011.
Being put in the same group as Barcelona has hampered City’s chances of repeating the same feat but Guardiola will be eyeing a strong home record as a platform to overtake the Spanish champions.
Quotes from the managers: André Schubert, Mönchengladbach coach
“We want to be courageous and brave, we always go into games feeling we are up for it, and up for a victory, rather than feeling we are going to lose. It will take a lot of courage – we need to push ourselves all the way as we are up against a very strong team.”
Having overpowered Manchester United, Guardiola must now mastermind a victory over a coach he is yet to beat in two meetings – Andre Schubert.
Schubert, who only took over Monchengladbach last season, guided his side to a 3-1 victory over Guardiola’s Bayern Munich last December, while he secured a point at the Allainz Arena in the return fixture in April.
Raheem Sterling scored two late goals to help fire City to a 4-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium in the last meeting between these sides.
Prediction 3-1

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