Champions League last 16 Wednesday Preview – Second legs

Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur look to make it three English teams from three in the Champions League quarter-final line-up on Wednesday.

Liverpool and holders Real Madrid progressed on Tuesday, and Man City will be more than confident of joining them – as they hold a 4-0 lead ahead of their second leg with Swiss outfit Basel.

Pep Guardiola was quick to play down City’s tags as favourites for the competition, saying: “We’re almost in the quarter-finals but we’re not and we have to be calm. In terms of the Champions League, it’s a dream for all the teams to be there but if we get through it’ll be just the second time in our history in the quarter-finals.”

Spurs’ tie with Juventus is delicately poised after a 2-2 draw in Turin and boss Mauricio Pochettino feels that his side have already gained ‘respect’ from their progression through the competition this season, but they do not want that to end here.

“After the group stage we improved our reputation in Europe,” the Argentine said.

“Last season was a massive disappointment to be out in the first stage, but this year of course the people in Europe start to respect Tottenham.

“They respect the philosophy we build and the football we play. We feel we have respect for the brand of football we show, they respect us in Europe we feel.”

See below for a run-down on the games, including predictions from our own Football Insider Graeme Bailey together with everything you need to know from the bookies – with BoyleSports’s Leon Blanche.

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Second leg
Manchester City 19:45 FC Basel (agg 5:0)

Etihad Stadium

TEAM NEWS: Benjamin Mendy and Fernandinho miss out for City whilst they may decide not to risk Raheem Sterling. For Basel, Taulant Xhaka is suspended whilst Germano Vailati and Eder Balanta.
KEY FACT: No team has ever progressed to the next round following a 4-0 home defeat in the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie
MATCH ODDS: Man City 2/11 Draw 11/2 Basel 14/1
GRAEME SAYS: Man City won’t lose, comfortable home win…3-0
LEON SAYS: Man City to win to nil @4/5
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Kevin De Bruyne, no brainer to have him in your portfolio

Second leg
Tottenham Hotspur 19:45 Juventus (agg 2:2)
Wembley Stadium

TEAM NEWS: Spurs are without the suspended Serge Aurier and injured defender Toby Alderweireld. Juve have a number of players missing with Mattia De SciglioFederico BernardeschiMario MandzukicJuan Cuadrado and Carlo Pinsoglio all absent. They hope to have striker Gonzalo Higuain available.
KEY FACT: Tottenham are one of three teams still unbeaten in this season’s Champions League
MATCH ODDS: Spurs 6/5 Draw 12/5 Juve 23/10
GRAEME SAYS: Spurs win this for me, they are in great form and will beat Juve…3-1
LEON SAYS: Draw @12/5
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Have to love Christian Eriksen, get him bought!

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