Basel v Manchester City: line-ups, Fantasy tips, form guide
Monday, February 12, 2018
Article summary
All you need to know as the runaway English Premier League leaders take on the Swiss champions.
Article top media content
Article body
- Basel boss Wicky: Everything has to be perfect
- Basel beat Manchester United 1-0 in November
- City have lost twice in all competitions this term
- Follow live build-up to the match right here
- How to watch the game where you are
Reporter's view: There can only be one winner, right? City are playing devastating football and, on paper, this tie goes their way. It may well do, but the first leg will be no walk in St. Jakob-Park for the visitors. Basel have already beaten Manchester United at home this season, and their fans will guarantee a high-voltage atmosphere. Expect this to be a lot tougher for Josep Guardiola's men than it might appear.
Possible line-ups
Basel: Vaclík; Lacroix, Suchý, Balanta; Lang, Frei (Zuffi), Xhaka, Petretta; Elyounoussi, Van Wolfswinkel, Oberlin
Out: Vailati (shoulder)
Doubtful: Balanta (thigh), Zuffi (foot)
Misses next match if booked: Balanta, Petretta, Xhaka
- Added to squad since group stage: Frei, Lacroix, Stocker
Man. City: Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Zinchenko; Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva, David Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling; Agüero
Out: Mendy (knee), Jesus (knee)
Misses next match if booked: Danilo
- Added to squad since group stage: Laporte, Zinchenko
Fantasy Football top point scorers
Basel: Michael Lang, defender (40 points, €6m)
Man. City: John Stones, defender (33 points, €5.7m)
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Weekend results
Thun 0-2 Basel
Man. City 5-1 Leicester
Form guide*
Basel: WLWWWW
Man. City: WDWWWW
*All competitions, most recent first
Raphaël Wicky, Basel coach
Manchester City basically have no weaknesses. They can change their game, they're flexible and can react to what their opponents do. They have quality, and their coach has shown his quality with Barcelona and Bayern too. They're an unbelievably strong team. When we have the ball, we have to have the courage to use it. Everything has to go perfectly for us in every single respect if we are to create a big surprise.
Josep Guardiola, Man. City manager
In the Champions League Basel play with a back five and they put in some great performances during the group stage. They're strong and well-organised at the back, and good on the counterattack. I've told my players it will be very, very difficult, particularly here. But we're confident. Our goal is to do better than we did last season, which means going through to the quarter-finals.
