The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Man City

  • UEFA Champions League: Tough Man City test for Barcelona

    UEFA Champions League: Tough Man City test for Barcelona

    … Arsenal tackles Bayern Munich

    …  Chelsea plays Galatasaray

     

    Manchester City against Barcelona is the pick of the ties to emerge from Monday’s Champions League Round of 16 draw in Nyon.

    Goal.com reports that the Spanish champions will face Manuel Pellegrini’s free-scoring side after being drawn first out of the pot in the proceedings.

    Jose Mourinho faces another reunion with former striker Didier Drogba after his Chelsea side was drawn against Galatasaray, who edged out Juventus last week.

    Arsenal will face Bayern Munich, meanwhile, in a repeat of last season second round encounter, while fellow Bundesliga outfit Schalke meets nine-time champions Real Madrid.

    Elsewhere, Manchester United will face Greek champions Olympiakos, while Paris Saint-Germain takes on Bundesliga high-flyers Bayer Leverkusen.

    AC Milan’s reward for edging into the last 16 is Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. Finally, Borussia Dortmund – beaten finalists last season, confronts Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg.

    The sides who finished as group runners-up will host the first leg encounters on the February 18/19 and 25/26, while the second legs take place on March 11/12 and 18/19.

    The pairings:

    Manchester City vs Barcelona

    Olympiakos vs Manchester Utd

    AC Milan vs Atletico Madrid

    Bayer Leverkusen vs Paris Saint-Germain

    Galatasaray vs Chelsea

    Schalke vs Real Madrid

    Zenit St Petersburg vs Borussia Dortmund

    Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

     

     

     

  • Musa ready for Man City

    Musa ready for Man City

    By Julius Okorie

    Visiting Manchester City will have the fast Super Eagles and CSKA Moskva striker Ahmed Musa to contend with when both sides file out in today’s champions league clash in Arena Khimki in Russia

    Moskva who ran away with a 3-2 win over Viktoria Plzen October 2nd are hoping to again smile at the expense of another visitor when they welcome Manchester City. Although Musa who saw 89 minutes action in the tie against Plezen did not score, his super form and confidence especially after Eagles successfully earned a 1-2 win against Wayla of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa in the World Cup qualifier, is bound to rub off on his team’s desire to consolidate in the champions league.

    Unlike Moskva who are going into today’s tie in high spirit, Manchester City head into the tie coming from a shock 1-3 defeat to by German side Bayern München. While the English Premier campaigners will be hoping to remedy their run in the Champions league, losing sight of Musa known for his pace when it matters could signal back to back defeat for the Manuel Pellegrini’s tutored side.

  • Mikel targets more trophies

    Mikel targets more trophies

    Nigeria star Mikel Obi has said he wishes for more success with club and country as that would make him a more matured player and person.

    “Every big tournament you win seems to take you to another level, both as a player and a person,’ MTNFootball.com quoted Mikel as saying on Chelsea official website.

    “You mature by winning major trophies, that’s what it’s done for me since I’ve been at Chelsea. I’ve won pretty much everything but I’m still hungry for success.”

    Mikel won his first Africa Cup of Nations winners’ medal earlier this month and he has won all the major trophies on offer with Chelsea – UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, English FA Cup and League Cup.

    On Sunday’s high-profile English Premier League clash against champions Manchester City, Mikel said it will be a tough match, but he believes Chelsea can win to close the gap at the top.

    He said, “It is going to be a tough game, it’s an important game for both teams, a win for us will help us close the gap, we can do it but will be a tough match,” he predicted.

    “Yaya Toure is always a key player for Manchester City, especially when he plays slightly further forward and not in a defensive role.

    “When he charges up front that’s when he’s so dangerous. It surprises me he doesn’t play there more often, but when they are struggling Mancini tends to throw him forward.

    “If I’m selected to play I will need to think of how to deal with Yaya. You have to try not to let him run beyond you, if you commit yourself he’s gone.

    “He’s always a threat but so is their whole team. You look up front where they have [Carlos] Tevez and [Sergio] Aguero, whoever plays in attack is dangerous, they are such a good side.”