Read our prediction for Manchester City vs Schalke below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between Manchester City vs Schalke and you can increase your winnings!
Manchester City vs Schalke Prediction & Betting tips
At least since last week we know that supposedly safe starting positions in the UEFA Champions League do not always lead to the next round. Defending champions Real Madrid and Paris St. Germain were eliminated despite fierce defeats in the first leg, after fierce defeats at home. Strictly speaking, FC Schalke could take on an example for Ajax Amsterdam or Manchester United before the deciding return match at Manchester City, but lacking, probably not only in the neutral football fans, any belief in such a sensational coup. The background is primarily the sporting crisis that the Royal Blues have been undergoing since the beginning of the season and even moved into the relegation battle of the Bundesliga. In addition, the reigning English champion is, of course, much better in terms of quality.
That in the match Manchester City vs. Schalke are thus issued such one-sided quotas, by no means surprising. However, the “Citizens” should not completely take the easy task against the Gelsenkirchen, because after all, the first match ended only three weeks ago with a 3-2 away win for the big favorite, who also only in the final stages of the match could turn in their own favor. Also interesting is the fact that the Guardiola team has been able to survive in the last five seasons actually only twice the round of the last 16 in the premier class. Will the English get cold feet again? If you would like to tip Manchester City and Schalke to an away win against the Tedesco team, you could multiply your bet by a factor of 20:00 and win a mega-win.
Manchester City:
The mood at Manchester City could not be much better right now. The team of coach Pep Guardiola has indeed the opportunity to realize the perfect season. The English Community Shield and the League Cup have already won the “Citizens”; In the FA Cup (quarter-finals) and in the Premier League (currently league leaders), the chances are also very good. Nonetheless, it is certain that some players would be willing to give up one or the other national title in order to be able to raise the handle of the UEFA Champions League for the first time. Also in the premier class, the reigning English champion now hopes for the very first title in club history. Although there is still a long way to go until the final on June 1st at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, nobody really doubts the great quality of the light blue and white people. However, the outlook was already rosy over the past few seasons, when ManCity finally failed to live up to its own expectations. As already mentioned, the English only survived the round of 16 in two of the past five years. Also significant is the fact that the Guardiola team won only one of the five home games in the round of the last 16 in this period. Even the 5: 3 in front of home backdrop against AS Monaco in the season 2016/2017 was not enough to progress. From a statistical point of view, the signs for the return match are Manchester City vs. Schalke and the corresponding prognosis are therefore by no means as clear as the bookmakers’ prices suggest.
Logically, the (historical) numbers are but a maximum of half the truth, because by no means should be neglected that Sergio Aguero and Co. last presented in great shape and, after the penalty shoot-in the League Cup Final including eight success games won in a row. In the Premier League, the “Citizens” in ten of the last eleven games left the place as the winner. Among them were home wins against Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC or Chelsea FC, who are much more callous than FC Schalke 04. Due to the clear increase in the form curve compared to the months of December / January, they are in the second leg between Manchester City and Schalke the odds on the favorites set so low because we have virtually no option left, as to look for alternative betting markets.
The balance against German teams can be seen from the point of view of the English champion. From the past eight direct duels with Bundesliga teams ManCity celebrated seven victories and shared once the points. In front of their own fans in Etihad Stadium kept the Guardiola protégés in all four encounters the upper hand. Nevertheless, the total yield of only six successes from the last twelve home games in the European Cup leaves questions unanswered. On the Tuesday night, are the light blue and white guys actually scrapping for the first time in their own club history, even though the first leg was made victorious abroad? Otamendi must be blocked after his red card in the first leg. De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Mendy and Claudio Bravo are injured.
Schalke:
Jochen Schneider was presented as the new sports director and thus successor to Christian Heidel at FC Schalke 04 last week. Eight days later, the ex-Leipzig is already facing the first allegations. Reason is his statement after the 2-4 defeat that he has seen a turnaround in performance. Admittedly, the Royal Blues in Bremen presented much better than in the previous week, but an even worse appearance than at home 0: 4 against Fortuna Dusseldorf would not have been possible anyway. Moreover, it may seem doubtful when a decision-maker of the reigning German vice-champion speaks of a step in the right direction, although their own team conceded four goals in just the second time in a row and had to take another setback in the fight for relegation. Trainer legend Peter Neururer even went so far as to say that Jochen Schneider made himself vulnerable to these words and did not recognize the seriousness of the situation. Although Christmas is nine months in the future, the tree in Gelsenkirchen is burning brightly! That this fire just on Tuesday night in the premier class expires, seems almost impossible.
From the past nine competitive games, the Ruhrpott club could only keep the upper hand in the DFB Cup knockout round against Dusseldorf. There were also two draws as well as six, some significant, defeats. But the fact that the Royal Blues has always swallowed at least three goals in their recent four meetings and had to accept a whopping 14 goals in total, proves the current uncertainty around the Veltins Arena. In order to make a positive prognosis for the Underdog from the Bundesliga in the second round playoff Manchester City against Schalke, it therefore requires the typical “pink club sunglasses”.
The last away win of a Gelsenkirchen team in the knockout round of the Champions League, some fans will like to remember. 2014/2015, the Ruhrpottler sat down at the Estadio Santiago de Bernabeu 4: 3 at Real Madrid, but retired due to a 0-2 home defeat in the first leg yet. The same result would be enough on Tuesday for a sensational progress. The fact that the Schalke have won none of the past six appearances on the island (two draws, four defeats) complicates the venture in addition, although the record of just three bankruptcies in the last 15 European matches in foreign countries at least somewhat obsessive optimism. Schöpf, Mascarell and Caligiuri must fit injured. Players like Sane, Rudy, Harit, Mendyl, Uth or Konoplyanka were recently denied the necessary mentality, so they will probably not be used in Manchester (from the beginning).
Manchester City vs Schalke head to head matches
20.02.19 CL Schalke Manchester City 2 : 3
27.11.08 EL Schalke Manchester City 0 : 2