re: Manchester City 2015-16 thread "The Pepectations are high"

EDIT now that I'm done drinking.

WHAT A MATCH!

Silva is back!
Bony didn't look like arse!
Toure played like it was 2012 again!
RAHEEM frickING STERLING!

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frustrated by Bony's effort, or lack there of

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I've never had Malaria, but I think maybe his slow start this year had to do with getting it over the summer.
Of course, I'm not sure he was much better from Jan- May.

how much do you all want to bet we draw PSG for the round of 16?

here is the official city view on the six possible opponents.

PSG

Widely recognised as the toughest-possible draw for City, the Parisian made light work of Malmo and Shakhtar Donetsk in Group A, only missing out on top spot because of their 1-0 away defeat to Real Madrid on Match Day Four.

Top scorer: Angel Di Maria (3)

Manager: Laurent Blanc

Stadium: Parc des Princes (49,000 capacity)

City links: Former World Player of the Year George Weah played for both clubs and so too did City legend Ali Benarbia.

Previous meetings: One. City 0-0 PSG (UEFA Cup) 3 December 2008

Best UCL/European Cup performance: Quarters (2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15)

PSV

The Dutch champions are one of the competition’s surprise packages after they squeezed through Group B at Manchester United’s expense. Phillip Cocu’s side dumped Louis van Gaal’s side out to qualify alongside Wolfsburg thanks to a 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow on Match Day Six.

Top scorer: Maxime Lestienne and Luuk de Jong (2)

Manager: Phillip Cocu

Stadium: Philips Stadion (35,000 capacity)

City links: Former Blues defender Karim Rekik was part of PSV’s Eredivisie winning side last season. Da Marcus Beasley and Michael Ball have also played for both clubs.

Previous meetings: N/A

Best UCL/European Cup performance: Winners 1987/88

Benfica

Benfica qualified from Group C which was won by Atletico on the final Match Day. The Portuguese champions overcame Astana and Galatasaray to make the knockout rounds, recording 10 points from their six games.

Top scorer: Nicolas Gaitan (3)

Manager: Rui Vitoria

Stadium: Estadio da Luz (65,000 capacity)

City links: Former City midfielder Javi Garcia represented Benfica for three years between 2009 and 2012. Brazilian attacking midfielder Geovanni has also played for both clubs.

Previous meetings: N/A

Best UCL/European Cup performance: 1960/61, 1961/62

AS Roma

Roma progressed to the Last 16 on the final Match Day, finishing as runners-up to FC Barcelona at the expense of BATE Borisov and Bayer Leverkusen.

Top scorer: Edin Dzeko, Miralem Pjanic and Daniele De Rossi (2)

Manager: Rudi Garcia

Stadium: Stadio Olimpico (72,000 capacity)

City links: Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko is currently leading the line for the Italian giants where he’s regularly joined in the team by Brazilian full-back Maicon. Going back further, David Pizarro has also represented both clubs.

Previous meetings: Twice, 2014/15 UCL group stages. City won in Roma 2-0 and drew 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Best UCL/European Cup performance: Quarter-finals (twice)

Dynamo Kiev

FC Porto and Maccabi Tel Avid were both seen off as Dynamo Kiev reached the Last 16 for the first time since the late 1990s. Ex-Spurs striker Sergey Rebrov guided the Ukrainian side through along with Chelsea from Group G.

Top scorer: Andriy Yarmolenko (2)

Manager: Sergey Rebrov

Stadium: NSC Olimpiyskiy (70,000 capacity)

City links: Andrei Kanchelskis represented both clubs in the 1990s.

Previous meetings: Twice (Europa League 2010/11) Dynamo Kiev dumped City out of the Europa League in March 2011 thanks to a 2-1 aggregate win. City won the home leg 1-0 thanks to Aleksandar Kolarov’s goal but that wasn’t enough to overturn the 2-0 first-leg deficit.

Best UCL/European Cup performance: Semi-final (Three times)

KAA Gent

Belgian league champions KAA Gent, nicknamed The Buffalos, made it through Champions League Group H, knocking out Valencia and Lyon. This is their first appearance in the tournament phase of the competition but they have plenty of continental calibre as they’ve played 40 games in the Europa League. They won three straight games to claim an unlikely place in the knockout stages - one of the real stories of the Champions League so far.

Top scorer: Danijel Milicevic (3)

Manager: Hein Vanhaezebrouck

Stadium: Ghelamco Arena (20,000 capacity)

City links: Kevin De Bruyne came through the youth ranks at KAA Gent.

Previous meetings: N/A

Best UCL/European Cup performance: Third qualifying round 2010/11

Roma wouldn't surprise me. We'll draw away then Aguero will be hurt for the home leg. Bony will rocket one into the cheap seats. Dzeko will score the winner. Typical City.

Judging by the way the past two years have gone, it will be PSG. And I will be sad.

Other than that, the other tough draws would be Benfica and Roma.

We just can't pull an Arsenal from last year if City draws Gent. Watch Chelsea draw them, with the exception of last year they always get off easy in UCL.

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I really think the best matchup from a neutral perspective would be Roma. If both teams are healthy I think that would be fun as shite to watch.

PSG would be tense but honestly I THINK we can take them.

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not interested in this game from a neutral perspective. i want gent.

we lost to stoke last weekend, i'd rather not worry about PSG.

oh don't worry. i fully expect to be playing PSG with no silva, aguero, or de bruyne.

i can hope though.

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Dude has been an absolute tank so far.

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thanks for the jinx!

ITS HAPPENING

PLEASE LET IT BE TRUE

ETA: In German but supposedly reputable. Ancelotti to Bayern and Pep to City.