Manchester City will look to build on a 2-0 advantage over Borussia Monchengladbach in the second leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League on Tuesday.
History Favours the Hosts
Manchester City are unbeaten in all five previous meetings with Borussia Monchengladbach, winning four and drawing one.
Goals from Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus in the first leg have placed City, who are rated as 9/4 favourites to win the competition, in an extremely strong position.
Both legs of the tie are being played at the Puskas Arena in Budapest with the Premier League side regarded as the home side in this second encounter.
City were struggling to match their usual high standards in front of goal earlier in the campaign but they have enjoyed more success as things have developed.
Pep Guardiola’s side have netted at least three goals in three of their last four outings and four of the last five across all competitions have contained over 2.5 goals.
With Gladbach having to chase the game, they could be left open and exposed. Therefore, backing a City win and over 2.5 goals at 20/29 looks the way to go.
Sterling Set for Statement Performance
Raheem Sterling and Guardiola have both come out to deny reports of a fallout over recent days after the forward was omitted from the squad for the win over Fulham on Saturday.
Sterling had been an unsued substitute in the victory at home against Southampton three days earlier and reports suggested he was frustrated with his boss.
Guardiola has played down concerns surrounding the England international, who has scored 13 goals in home games for City in the Champions League since 2016-17, more than any other player at the club during that period.
The 26-year-old has only bagged once in the competition this campaign but with a return to the XI on the cards and a point to prove, Sterling looks an attractive option to score anytime at 5/4.
Real Work to Do for Madrid
Real Madrid welcome Atalanta to the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium with a 1-0 advantage after edging to victory in Italy last month,
Atalanta were reduced to 10 men just 17 minutes into the first leg and they almost held out for a draw. However, Ferland Mendy struck in the final five minutes to secure a vital away goal for Los Blancos.
The Spanish outfit had major injury issues ahead of the previous meeting with Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Eder Miltao and Marcelo all unavailable.
Benzema needs 1 goal to become the 5th player in history to register 70 #UCL goals
pic.twitter.com/rTrbJbB9Oj
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 16, 2021
Zinedine Zidane is boosted by that quartet being back this time around as Atalanta, who reached the quarter-finals last season, look to force their way back into the tie.
Atalanta have a reputation for being an attack-minded side and they aren’t likely to let Real off the hook lightly in the Spanish capital.
They can be backed at 43/20 to pick up a victory but also look a decent prospect in the double chance market at 5/7.
It’s often the case that first-leg ties can be tense and tight affairs but with so much at stake the second meeting often opens up.
Backing both teams to score ‘Yes’ at 10/19 might also be worth consideration.
*All odds correct at time of writing
