Champions League: City can beat Atletico with clean sheet at the Etihad

Only eight teams are still standing in the Champions League, with the English champions and Spanish champions set to go head-to-head in the quarter-finals this week.

Guardiola will want fast start

The phrase ‘irresistible force meets immovable object’ may have been created to describe this tie. There are few finer sights in world football than this Manchester City team in full flow.

Yet Atletico Madrid showed in the last round that they remain tough to beat on the big occasion. Granted, the Manchester United side they conquered over two legs are not in City’s league, but Diego Simeone is a wily manager who relishes being the underdog.

His side are certainly that. They are facing the favourites to win the Champions League, with Smarkets traders giving City a one in three chance of triumphing this year.

Pep Guardiola will demand a fast start. He will not want to let Atletico settle into the game, nor give them an opportunity to spoil from the get-go. As far as City are concerned, the earlier they score the better.

This is by no means a vintage Atletico side, and the visitors might struggle to hold out in the first 45 minutes. City are 1.84 to win the first half.

Atletico likely to adopt defensive tactics

Simeone has some fine attacking options at his disposal these days. In fact, the problem has often been his inability to settle on a favoured frontline. Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa and Joao Felix are all options for Tuesday’s contest.

Even so, we will probably see Atletico go back to their roots and turn in a defensive display. In some ways that is understandable. Going toe-to-toe with City would surely result in a heavy defeat. Moreover, the scrapping of the away goals rule has lessened the incentive for visiting teams to go on the attack.

City’s defensive record is hugely impressive: they have shipped only 18 goals in 30 Premier League matches this term, and did not concede in either leg of their last-16 tie with Sporting CP. A home win to nil is appealing at 2.1.

Will Man City players be celebrating again when they face Atletico in the Champions League on Tuesday night?

In-form Sterling can find the net

There was a time earlier this season when Raheem Sterling was struggling to get into City’s starting XI. Now, as we approach the business end of the campaign, he has become an integral player again.

No forward is ever guaranteed a start at City, whose strength in depth up top is impressive. Yet it would be a surprise if Sterling did not feature from the first whistle on Tuesday.

The England international was excellent against Burnley at the weekend and has nine direct goal involvements in his last seven club appearances in all competitions. He is priced at 2.68 to find the back of the net anytime against Atletico.

Recommended bets

City first half @ 1.84

City to nil @ 2.1

Sterling anytime @ 2.68