Manchester City v Viktoria Plzen: Champions League match preview

A look ahead to this week’s Champions League match in Manchester

Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates his second goal (Getty Images)

Joe Hart looks set to regain the starting goalkeeper job for Manchester City this week as they take on Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League. City Manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that Hart will start his first match since being replaced by Costel Pantilimon for the Premier League game against Norwich on 2nd November.

The Shrewsbury born goalkeeper returns to a side that has already qualified for the last 16 of the competition and faces a team that has only scored two goals and conceded 12 in four European games this season.

Viktoria Plzen are one of two teams in the Champions league season who have lost every group game. Despite the unbalanced match-up, City will have plenty to play for as the winner of Group D is still up for grabs. They will be hoping to regain points on Bayern Munich who play CSKA Moscow on Wednesday, before travelling to face the German side at the Allianz Stadium on the 10th December.

KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 7.45pm

PAST MEETINGS:

Viktoria Plzen 0 Manchester City 3 (Džeko, Touré, Agüero), Champions League, Group Stage, September 2013

STATS:

Manchester City are only one point shy of their best Champions League outing in 2011/12 (ten points from six games).

Viktoria Plzen have conceded eight of their twelve goals against in the second-half, the joint-most of all teams along with Galatasaray.

Alongside CSKA Moscow, Viktoria Plzen have conceded the joint-most goals in the Champions League this season (12).

City have only ever lost one European home game (excluding qualifiers) to a non-English side but that defeat came this season at the Etihad against Bayern.

ODDS:

Manchester City to win: 1.15

Viktoria Plzen to win: 19.0

Draw: 7.0

TV: Live on Sky Sports 4 at 7.45pm, highlights on Sky Sports 2 at 10PM.