Monchengladbach out for revenge against City

2020/21 UEFA Champions League

Round of 16
Second-Leg
Manchester City v Borussia Monchenglabach

Puskas Arena

Budapest, Hungary

Tuesday, 16 March 2021

Kick-off 22h00 CAT

Borussia Monchengladbach will be on a revenge mission when they face Manchester City at the Puskas Arena on March 16.

The German club succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to City in the first-leg encounter at the same venue on February 24 as the hosts.

They will pin their hopes of securing a victory over City on Alassane Plea, who is Monchengladbach’s first-choice striker.

The French hitman caught the eye as Monchengladbach secured their record away Champions League victory earlier this season.

Plea netted an impressive hat-trick in a 6-0 win at Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine in a Group B match in November 2020.

Meanwhile, City took control of this tie with a win in the first-leg clash thanks to a goal in each half from Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus.

Jesus has scored in City’s last four round of 16 matches, and in all five of his appearances at this stage of the Champions League.

Sergio Aguero’s hat-trick helped City to a 4-0 win at home to Monchengladbach on Matchday one of that 2016/17 season.

The English giants will look to Brazilian striker Jesus and Argentine star Aguero when they face Monchengladbach in Hungary.

Pep Guardiola, the City manager, was not satisfied despite their win over Monchengladbach as he felt that his charges should have scored more goals.

“We had incredible focus for 90 minutes but we were not good enough today in the opposition’s box,” Guradiola said.

“We played really well, but we have to be more clinical in this competition. You have to be better, but in general no complaints because we know how good they are and how physical they are.

“In this competition, we don’t have much margin for error – if you have a 1 on 1 or a 3 v 2 situation, you have to at least finish the action or make the keeper make a save and we didn’t do it.”

The last time City hosted Mochengladbach in a competitive match was on 15 September 2016.

City ran out 4-0 winners over Monchengladbach in the Champions League Group C match at the Etihad Stadium.

Head-to-head (Competitive matches)

Matches – 5
City – 4
Monchengladbach – 0
Draws – 1