Group C in the Champions League has already had its outcome determined, but there’s still one match to be played. Manchester City are already set to advance to the knockout rounds with Celtic already eliminated, but that doesn’t mean that his match is canceled — and if anything, the lack of pressure could add some extra oomph to this game.
Manchester City vs. Celtic 2016: Start time, TV schedule, live stream, and 3 things to know
Manchester City have nothing to gain with Champions League advancement already secure, but they can earn a little revenge against Celtic.
That’s because Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are looking for a measure of revenge, having been immensely frustrated at Celtic’s hands in a 3-3 draw earlier in the group. City will be eager to set that particular record straight, because there is no way they’ll be willing to advance without feeling as though they’ve left this kind of business unfinished. With nothing to lose by going for the throat, expect City to do just that, and leave little doubt as to which team is the better.
TV: Fox Sports 1 (U.S.), BT Sport 3 (U.K.)
Online: Fox Soccer 2GO, Fox Sports Go, ESPN3, WatchESPN (U.S.), BT Sport Live Streaming (U.K.)
Match Date/Time: Tuesday, 2:45 p.m. ET, 7:45 p.m. local
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
Three big things to know
- One would typically assume that Manchester City would win this match quite handily, but such assumptions ended when Celtic battered their way to a 3-3 draw against City in the reverse of this fixture at Celtic Park in September. Especially with City already advancing from the group and not needing anything from this game, there is every chance that the Scottish team can wind up taking points off their English rivals again in this match.
- Of course, such a result would be little more than a consolation prize for Celtic at this point as they’ve already been eliminated from contention to make the Europa League thanks to only picking up two points in their first five matches. That paired with their loss to third-place finishers Borussia Monchengladbach means that they don’t have the means to earn a tiebreaker advantage over the German side, and that they’ll be spending the spring watching European matches from home instead of taking part in them.
- Of course, this match still has meaning to Celtic’s manager. Brendan Rodgers has a long history of going head-to-head with Manchester City, including narrowly losing the EPL title to them several years ago with Liverpool, and making his EPL debut with Swansea against them in a losing effort. In nine matches against them, his record is dead even: three wins, three losses, and three draws. This match will break that tie one way other the other, and Rodgers would much prefer to make it a positive outcome against a club that he’s managed so many big matches against.
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