Dynamo Kiev vs Manchester City Betting Tips & Predictions

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Dynamo Kiev

Manchester City

Dynamo Kiev have been busy during their winter break, playing no less than 13 matches over the last six weeks to give their entire squad a good workout and keep them match fit ready for their Champions League escapades. The results have been a mixed batch largely, but that’s no surprise considering they have at times played two matches in three days with entirely different teams. Competitively they have won their last six outings in all competitions and sit in 2^nd position in the Ukranian Premier League, level on points with leaders Shakhtar Donetsk.

Manchester City’s season has taken a turn for the worse over the past couple of weeks. A very young squad were humbled by Chelsea in the FA Cup at the weekend when the Stamford Bridge outfit romped to a 5-1 victory. This made it three defeats in a row for Man City, with home losses to Leicester and Spurs putting them six points adrift of the top of the Premier League table in 4^th position. A Champions League triumph would put departing manager Manuel Pellegrini in the history books though, so expect the best 11 available to him to be put out on Wednesday.

Reasons for Betting Tips

Dynamo Kiev have traditionally put up a wall at home in the Champions League. They have only lost one of their last six home matches and have kept a clean sheet four times during this period. All but one of these matches have seen fewer than three goals scored overall, and after making the knockout stages for the first time in 16 years they will be very happy taking something to work with to the Etihad for the second leg.

Manchester City are looking to reach the last eight for the first time in their history with this tie, and a solid away performance in the first leg is crucial for this. I’m not expecting them to go in all guns blazing, especially after suffering three defeats in a row for the first time since 2010. They will just be happy to avoid defeat on Wednesday, and I think we’re likely to get an organised, efficient performance rather than a free flowing attacking game.

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Dynamo Kiev: WDWLWLW

Manchester City: LLLWWWD

Head to Head

The knockout rounds of the 2010/11 Europa League saw Dynamo Kiev and Manchester City drawn against each other, with each team winning their home leg and Dynamo Kiev progressing on aggregate.

Statistics

Manchester City have averaged a total of two goals per game away from home this season, with 42% of their games seeing three or more goals scored. 83% of Dynamo Kiev’s last six home matches in the Champions League have had under 2.5 goals.

Team News

Dynamo Kiev – Left back Vitorino Antunes is suspended for this match, and highly rated winger Andriy Yarmolenko is a minor doubt, but the home side’s best player is likely to return to face Man City.

Manchester City – Bacary Sagna and Wilfried Bony are slight doubts for this clash, but Fabian Delph, Samir Nasri, Jesus Navas, Kevin De Bruyne, and Elaquim Mangala have all been ruled out. Their fit players should all be match ready though after the majority of them were rested in the FA Cup.