Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk: TV, stream & preview

  /  autty

Pep Guardiola's side can put one foot into the knockout stages of the Champions League with victory against the Ukrainian Premier League leaders

With the Champions League group stage entering its second phase, matchday four cranks up the battle for progression to the last 16 in Europe's top club competition.

In Group F, Manchester City sit in pole position to reach the knockout rounds and Pep Guardiola's side can all but assure themselves of qualification with a win at the Etihad Stadium against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Ukrainian Premier League leaders were soundly beaten on home soil a fortnight ago, thanks to goals from David Silva, Aymeric Laporte and Bernardo Silva - but Paulo Fonseca's side could yet deliver a shock in the return fixture.

They need a win to keep their hopes alive too - but do City have too much class for them to handle?

TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch

In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) .

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on BT Sport ESPN and livestreamed on BT Sport Live.

Squads & Team News

Manchester City remain without the services of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo through injury while Kevin De Bruyne and Eliaquim Mangala are also missing for the hosts.

Both Ilkay Gundogan and Nicolas Otamendi will return to the fold however, though they are likely to start on the bench.

Potential Manchester City XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy; Fernandinho, David Silva, Bernardo Silva; Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling.

The visitors are without Fernando or Ivan Ordets and may have to make do without Marlos too - but otherwise have a clean bill of health.

Junior Moraes will lead the charge from the front for Paulo Fonseca's side as they chase an unexpected result in Manchester.

Potential Shakhter Donetsk XI: Pyatov; Butko, Kryvtsov, Rakitskiy, Ismaily; Maycon, Stepanenko; Wellington Nem, Alan Patrick, Taison; Júnior Moraes

Betting & Match Odds

Manchester City are 1/9 favourites to take the victory, according to bet 365, while a draw is available at 10/1. Shakhtar Donetsk, meanwhile, are priced at 25/1.

Match Preview

With virtually every honour collected at the Etihad Stadium across the past decade, Manchester City’s campaign to crown themselves champions of Europe resumes once more as they host Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola’s side have won all major domestic honours, including the Premier League and FA Cup – but success across the continent has continued to elude them in this era of dominance.

Now competing in their eighth consecutive Champions League season, they will hope to better their best finish in the competition, achieved in 2016 when they slipped out in the semi-finals to Real Madrid.

First though, they must get into the knockout rounds and they can all but assure themselves of passage to the last 16 with victory over the Ukrainian Premier League holders.

City convincingly won in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago, with goals from David Silva, Aymeric Laporte and Bernardo Silva ensuring a comfortable 3-0 result.

They could be forgiven for expecting an easier ride on Wednesday too, at home in the comforts of the Etihad Stadium.

But Paulo Fonseca will be determined to at least make a spirited showing in Manchester, particularly as his side can thrust themselves back into contention with a win of their own after earning draws against Lyon and Hoffenheim.

Guardiola will at least be boosted by the return of Ilkay Gundogan and Nicolas Otamendi; however, with the talismanic Kevin De Bruyne missing, he may need another figurehead to pick up the slack.

Related: Manchester City Shakhtar Donetsk
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