Premier League leader Manchester City travels to Europa League holder Sevilla on Tuesday intent on proving it won’t be a Champions League flop once more this season.
Kevin de Bruyne’s injury-time strike snatched a 2-1 win for City when the sides met a fortnight ago in Manchester to put Manuel Pellegrini’s men in the driving seat along with Juventus to qualify from a devilishly difficult group also featuring Borussia Monchenglabach.
Despite its riches, City has failed to make it beyond the last-16 in the Champions League, crashing out to Barcelona in each of the last two seasons after being beaten to first place in its group by Bayern Munich.
After a disastrous start to the campaign in a 2-1 loss at home to Juventus, City has given itself a chance of topping the group with back-to-back wins to close to within a point of the Italian champion.
Silva doubtful
The visitors will again be without the injured Sergio Aguero, whilst David Silva remains doubtful due to the sprained ankle he suffered playing for Spain three weeks ago.
Raheem Sterling is expected to replace Nigerian wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho after the English international was rested from the start of Saturday’s 2-1 win over Norwich.
Sevilla has injury problems of its own as top scorer Kevin Gameiro misses out due to a hamstring problem picked up in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Villarreal.
The Spanish side has won its last 10 European games at the Sanchez Pizjuan on its way to winning back-to-back Europa League titles.
However, coach Unai Emery was highly critical of his squad for losing its focus after its latest league defeat saw it slip eight points off the top four.
“Tuesday will be another test as to how we are improving in every game. We can get excited because we are in the Champions League, but the league is where we have to achieve our priorities,” he said.
“I think about our bread and butter and that is the league. We need to enjoy the Champions League but where we need to win is in Spain.
“We are not going to win the Champions League. La Liga is what presents the road to our present and future.”
Fernando Llorente is the favourite to deputise for Gameiro after netting just his second goal for the club at the weekend.
And influential Argentine midfielder Ever Banega could also return should he shrug off an ankle knock in time. — AFP