***fcb v mcfc official match thread***

[Nigels Tackle]

expecting a routine victory tonight
sterling and aguero hat-tricks with foden coming off the bench to bag a late brace

[zuricity]

Wrap up warm fellas. Some parts of the Jura ( south of Basel) touched -27c in the night. It is sunny, but freezing today.

[City64]

C’mon you blues and all our fans over there have a great time .

[South Stand Balti]

Basel are not a bad team and have some very impressive victories in Europe. A score draw wouldn't be a bad result at all.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I think it's important that we score even if we don't win tonight but I am hoping for a 2.1 win.

[johnny crossan]

Yaya left at home to mind the shop again. I reckon Muric & Aymeric the sick will be left out 20 who travelled.

---------------------------------------Eddy----------------------------------
Walker-------------Stones----------------------Otter------------Danilo
----------------------------Fernandinho------------------------------------
Bernardo----------Brown----------------Merlin----------------Sterling
----------------------------------Aguero--------------------------------------

Bench: Kompany, Delph, Giundogan, Zinchenko, Foden, Sane

City win 1-3

[john@staustell]

Basel are not a bad team and have some very impressive victories in Europe. A score draw wouldn't be a bad result at all.

Yes they even beat the mighty Rags (twice) - oh hang on a minute..............................

[Chinners]

As long as we stick to the script and not underestimate them then I feel a Lawro 2-0 to us later will be our reward with an Aguero brace

[zuricity]

I think it's important that we score even if we don't win tonight but I am hoping for a 2.1 win.

if we don‘t win tonight , the squad need a kick up the Arsene!

Basel are simply not good enough. They even beat the rags !

[john68]

Previously by this stage of a season, we have a good idea just how good City are and just where we sit in football's hierarchy and it doesn't seem that many seasons ago that I can remember thinking "Wow, City are playing against Real Madrid, Barca or Bayern, without really believing we were at their level. City fans understood our place and our level and just being there seemed a heady experience.

We had a little dream a couple of seasons ago when we made the semi, but we all remember how that ended and it cemented our perception that we weren't quite there yet.

This season, I have no idea how good City are, nor where we sit at the top table. Like a boxer making his way through his weight division, he beats all comers, until the day he he fails and understands where his level is at that time.

Just how good are City this season, we should be better than Basel, we should get through to the next round and that is where the real test should begin.

I'll accept getting through but really can't wait until we have to do battle aginst the perceived big boys, Real, Barca, Juve and Bayern.

[PeterParker]

Basel are a mistery, we need to keep our heards on our shoulders and play smart.

[Saul Goodman]

expecting a routine victory tonight
sterling and aguero hat-tricks with foden coming off the bench to bag a late brace

I sense some sarcasm but Basel shouldnt be taken lightly. Theyve got some good wins under their belt.
I do expect a win but maybe a 2-0 or 2-1

[sheblue]

2 away goals and none conceded would be perfect to take any pressure off the home leg.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

I wouldn't be too unhappy with a high scoring draw and no injuries, given the cold conditions and the potentially difficult adversaries.

[london blue 2]

LFTCU

[brite blu sky]

Has PG faced them at all ? that would give a gauge of how they dealt with a Pep team.

I think we are likely to concede, but i dont think it will matter.

in reply to John about our level, i think the Napoli away game shows something about this teams level, what they did there very few teams can do in the CL.

[Beefymcfc]

As a few have mentioned, if we know our level we should be seeing this as a stepping stone to where we want to be. It's a slippery stepping stone that we must show respect but a stepping stone nonetheless.

[Bluedj]

I wouldn't be too unhappy with a high scoring draw and no injuries, given the cold conditions and the potentially difficult adversaries.

Just checked the forecast there for 8pm and it'll be -2c

[nottsblue]

As a few have mentioned, if we know our level we should be seeing this as a stepping stone to where we want to be. It's a slippery stepping stone that we must show respect but a stepping stone nonetheless.

Correct. But as a cautionary note, as long as we progress over the tie tonight's result isn't the be all and end all. A win would be great, but a score draw and a win back at our place would be acceptable

[CTID Hants]

How we line-up tonight!

City XI | Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Otamendi, Delph, Fernandinho, Gündogan, De Bruyne, Sterling, Bernardo, Agüero

Subs | Bravo, Danilo, Stones, Laporte, Sané, Silva, Foden

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