Manchester City vs Sporting Lisbon

Manchester City will be looking to finish the job and advance to the next UEFA Champions League knock-out round when they take on Sporting Lisbon at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City are on the verge of securing their fifth consecutive quarter-final appearance following a scintillating 5-0 romping of Sporting in the first leg in Portugal. Coming into this fixture, the ‘Cityzens’ thrashed fierce Premier League rivals Manchester United 4-1 to further lift the spirits at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola’s men haven’t lost any of their last 17 European outings at home (W16, D1), winning the last ten in a row! Additionally, they’ve won all four European home games against Portuguese visitors by an aggregate score of 11-3. However, before holding Sporting at bay in their last-16 first leg, Man City had failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their six previous Champions League outings this term, conceding a total of ten goals. That’s already five more than in their 13 matches in the competition last season.

On the other hand, Sporting have nothing but pride left to play for here, as they head into proceedings unbeaten in their last six competitive away matches on the trot (W4, D2). That run is likely to come to a halt here, at least based on Sporting’s recent performances in continental travels, with nine defeats from their last 11 away games in the Champions League. Curiously, though, the reigning Primeira Liga holders have won all eight two-legged knock-out ties against English sides so far, though that record will inevitably take a hit now. Indeed, the ‘Lions’ have suffered a staggering seven defeats across their 12 European visits to England (W2, D3), though they kept Arsenal to a scoreless draw in their most recent engagement in the country.