Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday is of the opinion that Manchester City are the favourites to win the Champions League this season.

The Citizens won their Champions League group, which had the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk and Serie A leaders Napoli in, before thrashing FC Basel 4-0 in Switzerland in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie last week.




Pep Guardiola’s team have been in great form domestically as well as they presently find themselves 16 points clear in the Premier League table and have also managed to reach the final of the EFL Cup where they will face Arsenal on Sunday.

And Halliday, who thinks Manchester City are the favourites for the Champions League this season, feels only Barcelona and Real Madrid can cope with the current Premier League leaders in Europe.
 


“I think they are favourites for the Champions League”, Halliday told Rangers' official podcast, when asked about Manchester City’s chances in the Champions League.

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“It’s hard to say that because they have never made an impact in the competition even when they had great teams for the last four to five seasons.

“But in my opinion they are a different animal this year.

“I don’t see many teams who will be able to cope with them.

“The only two teams which I feel can beat Manchester City are Barcelona and Real Madrid.”

Manchester City will welcome FC Basel to the Etihad Stadium for the second leg meeting on 7th March.