Ukrainian teams have never really had the most luck in the Champions League, and this year isn't likely to be an exception. However, that doesn't make a trip to Kiev any less dangerous for a team which has been sliding just a bit and has played a slew of fixtures in recent weeks. Manchester City knows the dangerous of going on the road where it is going to be taking on essentially an entire nation, as Dynamo Kiev is going to give it all that it has in order to take the lead in this home-and-home series in the last 16 of the tournament.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Dynamo Kiev +225
Manchester City +133
Draw +233
Over/Under 2.5 (under -125)
ODDS ANALYSIS
With the away goals rule in place for the Champions League knockout rounds, it's crucial for the Citizens to get at least one on the board in this match. That one very well could do against a Dynamo Kiev team which sometimes struggles to get offense going away from home.
However, the total in this match isn't as low as you might think at 2.5 and -125 vig on the under due to the fact that Dynamo is clearly going to go for it. Anything less than a win would surely see it out of the competition, as it isn't going on the road to England and amassing anything more than a draw, one would think.
City is favored by a +133 margin, but that surely isn't convincing. Much of the sharp action is going to be on Dynamo Kiev at PK +130 on the Asian Handicap.
KEY INJURIES
Manchester City fielded a horrible side in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday at Chelsea, and it paid the price. The 5-1 loss was embarrassing, but all of Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany were left out of the side. Manuel Pellegrini knows what he's doing though, as fielding a tip top side is top priority in the Champions League, the richest club tournament in the world.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We are forced to do it. Unfortunately, we couldn't play another day. We couldn't have more players fit for this game, so we knew before the game it was a very difficult chance to continue in the FA Cup." – Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini defending his position to field a team with basically nothing but youngsters in a 5-1 loss at Chelsea in the FA Cup on Sunday
RECENT FORM
Dynamo Kiev made it through the group stage of the Champions League in fine form, escaping from Portuguese soil with a 2-0 win at FC Porto followed by a 1-0 win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Matches here in Ukraine aren't overly important for sure. We know that Dynamo has the best team in the nation, and this is the stage where we'll see whether it is for real.
Man City has much more on its plate. The dismissal from the FA Cup was completely expected and basically asked for. The Citizens are through the Champions League group stage as a group winner for the first time, but they've been beaten in three matches in a row now across all competitions. The defeats at the hands of Tottenham and Leicester City at the Ethiad are incredibly concerning.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Andriy Yarmolenko is the man of the hour here for Dynamo Kiev. He's one of the most dynamic strikers in Europe, though he's never proven that on the Champions League stage. If he performs well here, not only might he get his club into the last eight of the UCL, but he might earn himself a massive pay raise as well with a move to a huge club.
Still, this is where the dream typically ends for teams like Kiev. There's a big difference between beating out FC Porto for the last spot in the knockout rounds and taking down a team like Manchester City.
Vincent Kompany is the man who will be the difference-maker. He'll be out on the wing with Yarmolenko, and we can't see him losing this battle. There won't be much to speak of if City has it its way in Ukraine. Ninety relatively uneventful minutes with one moment of brilliance for the visitors will be plenty.
Manchester City 1, Dynamo Kiev 0
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Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet. Click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The fixture between Dynamo Kiev and Manchester City is scheduled for Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 2:45 p.m. ET at NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
