CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16: CITY V SCHALKE PREVIEW AND PREDICTION

      So.....
        The Round of 16 in the Champions league is finally set and we have our matchups. We're getting bang for our buck. These contests are brimming with exciting potential with youth facing off against steely experience and veteran leadership, old foes and friends facing off, an insanely titanic tie that will knock one sure-fire contender out of the competition..... what we've got is a very balanced and evenly matched Round of 16.
TELL US WHO YOU THINK WILL WIN BELOW!!!

SCHALKE V MAN CITY

     
           This tie seems simple on its face: City's class destroys Schalke's disorganization and toothless attack, but if you remember Manchester City's Champions League knockout round endeavors in recent memory and their propensity to fall prey to "lesser" teams, this tie becomes a little interesting.
         The German side Schalke are an odd squad, with inconsistency and lack of a true goalscorer being the root of their issues. Though they possess some fantastic, underrated talent in American Weston McKinney, or my personal favorite Moroccan winger / midfielder Amin Harit and German international Sebastian Rudy, a gutty, gritty midfielder with panache at times. 
       Still...their highest scoring player is their right back Daniel Caliguiri with 4 goals in the Bundesliga. 

Amin Harit (left)

      Schalke simply don't score enough goals.
      They have no chance running into Manchester City at the top of their game. 
     The only hope they have is forcing City to beat themselves, which is only caused by stealing an early goal from a mistake at the back, followed by a goal from a set piece. 
       Sending City on their asses before they've been able to massage the ball around and circulate possession is exactly what Schalke need, or they will run into a freight train. 

     The train has been rolling as of late: Sergio Aguero has scored two hat tricks in his last 3 matches, Raheem Sterling has 12 goals and 12 assists, Leroy Sane rediscovered his form after a few matches out with another goal and an assist, Riyad Mahrez buried another goal and stayed active throughout last match in the FA Cup, Gabriel Jesus has scored and created  and although Aymeric Laporte committed his first error of the season after coming off of the bench late, City's back line also look more than suitable, with Stones and Laporte forming a partnership in the center lately and Otamendi and Kompany both available as well.
       The wrinkle that Schalke can attack is Oleksandr Zinchenko at left back, if Guardiola plays him. As good as the Ukrainian is on the ball, as many chances as he can create going forward, he's surrendered possession away in bad areas in midfield and at the back, resulting in huge chances or goals against the Gallagher Brothers' favorite team.
      This is where Schalke must define their press.
      Simply put, Italian right back Daniel Caliguiri must be joined by Amin Harit on the right wing so they can double-press Zinchenko, or even harass (barely back fit) Benjamin Mendy into mistakes if he's playing.

       If they don't, they have no chance. They must attack City in waves and fall back, then send another wave of organized pressure, then fall back again.
       Everyone has a chance in the Champions League, especially if your opponent beats themselves.
         But if City manager Pep Guardiola is smart, he'll insert Aymeric Laporte at left back and shore up the only hole in the City team, giving Schalke almost no hope over two legs.

      And let's not forget: Leroy Sane used to play for Schalke, it was when coming off of the bench in a Schalke kit (as a dreadlock'd unknown) that he scored that goal against Real Madrid in the Champions League; Schalke was where Pep Guardiola realized how good Sane was (while managing Bayern) and brought him to Manchester City. 
     We think this is a pair of matches where we see Leroy Sane prove a point: that he's in the top ten or twelve best players in the world. 

PREDICTION:
1ST LEG: 3-0 City 
2ND LEG: 2-1 City
(Manchester City advance 5-1)