Man. City v Tottenham preview: all you need to know

• Tottenham lead 1-0 after last week's first leg
• Guardiola: It's a season-defining week for City
• Pochettino: We must believe we can stop them
• Kane out for Spurs, Alli and Winks both doubtful
• Ajax await the winners in the semi-finals

Reporter's view (Simon Hart, UEFA.com): City have 11 straight home wins behind them but to get the 12th they need, they must improve on a first-leg showing described as "nervous" by İlkay Gündogan. Pep Guardiola tinkered with his selection last week but has to go for broke now, meaning Kevin De Bruyne will surely start. Spurs are without Harry Kane and wait on fitness tests for Dele Alli and Erik Lamela; however, Lucas Moura shone in Kane's absence at the weekend, and on two of their past three visits to City they've come away with a result that would see them through here.    

Possible line-ups

City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy; De Bruyne, Fernandinho/Gündogan, David Silva; Bernardo Silva, Agüero, Sterling
Out: Bravo (Achilles)
Doubtful: Fernandinho (unknown), Zinchenko (hamstring)
Misses next match if booked: Agüero, Otamendi

Tottenham: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Sissoko, Wanyama; Eriksen, Lucas, Son; Llorente
Out: Aurier (hamstring), Dier (hip), Kane (ankle), Winks (groin)
Doubtful: Alli (hand), Lamela (hamstring)
Misses next match if booked: Alderweireld, Lamela, Son

Key battle

Sterling vying with Trippier last week©Getty Images

Kieran Trippier v Raheem Sterling: Two of England's FIFA World Cup stars of last summer renew their battle. Trippier hasn't always been at his best this term but was mighty impressive in the first leg to tame Sterling, whose fine double on Sunday took him to ten goals in his last nine appearances for club and country.

Where to watch

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

Form guide

Man. City
Last game: Crystal Palace 1-3 Man City (Sunday)
Form: WLWWWWWWWW

• Raheem Sterling struck twice away to Palace as City guaranteed their place in England's top four.

Tottenham
Last game: Tottenham 4-0 Huddersfield Town (Saturday)
Form: WWWLLWDLLW

• Spurs now have three wins and seven unanswered goals at their new stadium.

Pep Guardiola, Man. City manager

Pep Guardiola speaking on the eve of the game©Getty Images

I know how focused the players are: the desire to get to the semi-finals. Will it be enough? I don't know. I got to the final once with one shot on target, and once I had 33 shots on target and didn't.

Football is that game. [We play Spurs in the Champions League and the league, and then Man. United so] if we don't win these games this week, we lose both titles.

Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham manager

For us to beat them in the first leg was an amazing result, but we know very well that the tie is still open. What we have is the belief and the faith that we can be strong. We are going to fight. 

We know they're so strong and have a very high tempo from the beginning, but that is our challenge – to try to stop them, to be offensive and attack. We need to believe that we can stop them and show our quality.