Manchester City have guaranteed their place in the Champions League knockout stages and Borussia Mönchengladbach can mathematically go no further, but both of these sides have plenty at stake when they face off at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The hosts are looking to overhaul their two-point deficit to group leaders Juventus, while Gladbach are hoping to hold off a late charge from Sevilla in order that they land in the Europa League knockouts.
Manchester City vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch Champions League online
Manchester City will look to return to the top of their Champions League group on Tuesday, though Borussia Mönchengladbach will be stern opponents.
City are favourites on paper, but it wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone if Gladbach came away victorious. They’ve not lost a single game since their defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League’s second matchday, and incredibly ended Bayern Munich’s unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga on the weekend. City, meanwhile, have wobbled of late, and have won only two of their last six in all competitions. They’re very defensively vulnerable, and Gladbach are more than capable of taking advantage.
Key player: Lars Stindl (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Gladbach will be looking for a big performance from their star attacker Lars Stindl, who reportedly turned down the opportunity to join Liverpool in the summer. The German is capable of playing in midfield, but has spent most of an impressive season up top. He’s excellent at holding off opposition defenders and bringing teammates into the game with incisive passing, as well as scoring himself -- he’s found the net thrice in Gladbach’s five Champions League games so far.
When they last met: Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-2 Manchester City, Sept. 30, 2015
City boss Manuel Pellegrini freely admitted his side were lucky to win when these sides met in Germany back in September. Joe Hart prevented Gladbach from taking a first-half lead by saving a Raffael penalty, though Stindl opened the scoring himself early in the second. However, from there City mounted a comeback, with Nicolás Otamendi volleying home 10 minutes later and Agüero scoring the winner from the penalty spot in the very last minute of action. Ouch.
Manchester City injuries and suspensions
Out: Samir Nasri (hamstring). In doubt: Pablo Zabaleta (knee); Sergio Agüero (foot); Yaya Touré (muscle); Fernandinho (knock).
Borussia Mönchengladbach injuries and suspensions
Out: Ibrahima Traoré, Martin Stranzl (thigh); Álvaro Domínguez (back); André Hahn (leg); Patrick Hermann, Nico Schulz (knee). In doubt: None.
City’s only confirmed absentee is midfielder Nasri, though he could be joined on the sidelines by defender Zabaleta, midfielders Touré and Fernandinho, and striker Agüero.
Gladbach, on the other hand, have a series of players definitely unavailable, including the long-term injured wingers Traoré and Hermann, and captain Stranzl.
Match date/time: Tues., Dec. 8, 2:45 p.m. ET, 7:45 p.m. local
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
TV: FOX Sports 2 (US - English); ESPN Deportes+ (US - Spanish); TSN1 (Canada); BT Sport 2 (UK)
Online: FOX Sports GO, FOX Soccer 2GO (US - English); ESPN3 (US - Spanish); BT Sport Live Streaming (UK)
See More:
