Former Manchester United and Liverpool striker Michael Owen has shared his thoughts ahead of the Champions League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
The Premier League pair will meet at the new Spurs stadium tomorrow evening in the first leg of the quarter final in front of 62,062 supporters for the first-ever European tie to be held at the arena.
Mauricio Pochettino is without Serge Aurier, Erik Lamela and Eric Dier who are all injured while Vincent Janssen is ineligible to play in the Champions League.
Spurs haven’t faced an English team in a European competition since April 1973, when they faced – and were eliminated by – Liverpool in the 1972-73 UEFA Cup semi-final.
The home fans will be pinning their hopes on Harry Kane, who has been involved in 17 goals in 17 Champions League appearances (14 goals, 3 assists); Kane has scored a goal every 106 minutes, the best ratio of any Englishman to have played at least 200 minutes in the competition.
Owen, however believes that it will be City who will come away from North London with the win.
He told BetVictor: “The first ever European meeting between the clubs and I feel it will be advantage City after Tuesday’s tie at White Hart Lane.
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“City have been pulling up few trees in recent games, but they have been doing more than enough to maintain their challenge for what would be an unprecedented four major trophies. City have won 11 of the last 16 games played between the sides – all in the Premier League – and I expect them to take a lead back to the Etihad next week.
“Pep Guardiola has won 26 knockout Champions League ties – the record currently stands at 27 held jointly by Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. I expect City’s Spanish boss to join that illustrious group midweek.”
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