Man City breezed past Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday and next up, they return to the UCL when they face Sporting CP.
City kick off their Round of 16 campaign with an away game at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday and Pep Guardiola’s side go into this game as the overwhelming favourites.
The UCL is the one trophy that Guardiola is desperate to win with Manchester City and given their dominance in the Premier League, this one should be a regulation win for the Etihad outfit.
City haven’t lost in their previous 12 matches but just to make things interesting, Sporting are also unbeaten in their past five games. Sporting also have a better head-to-head record, picking up two wins in the past vs Man City but there’s very little chance that they will be able to pick up a win on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola got the chance to rest some of his key players on Saturday but all of them will come back into the starting line up in midweek. The manager will be keen to kill off the tie in the first leg itself so he can focus on securing the Premier League in the coming weeks.
Man City’s team news vs Sporting CP:
Nathan Ake partnered Ruben Dias in central defence vs the Canaries but for Tuesday’s game, Aymeric Laporte will come back into the side while John Stones is expected to miss out.
Joao Cancelo was also rested for the Norwich City game and he too will come into the side while Kyle Walker holds onto his place.
Rodri will replace Fernandinho in defensive midfield and only one of Bernardo Silva or Ilkay Gundogan will get to keep his place. With De Bruyne set to return, Silva should get the nod ahead of Gundogan if the manager wants to set up an ultra-attacking first XI.
Then again both Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are more than apt at attacking teams from the get-go.
The forward line though is not expected to see too many changes since Jack Grealish and Gabriel Jesus are both injury doubts.
Highlights pertandingan Norwich City vs Manchester City (Premier League Gameweek 25).
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Jesus is recovering from a muscle injury while Grealish picked up a shin injury just before the Brentford game. While Jesus is not expected to make it to the matchday squad but Jack Grealish will be touch and go for Tuesday’s game.
The manager told the press on Saturday: “He’s injured. A little bit what he had last season at Villa, less of course. Training after Brentford he wasn’t good, we make a test, he wasn’t ready today. Hopefully ready for Tuesday.”
Thankfully, all the other forwards are fully fit and in exceptional form, so the Man City boss will have no issues in naming his front-three even if Jesus and Grealish are ruled out.
Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick on Saturday and if Grealish is missing then Phil Foden will play as the false nine once again with Mahrez operating on the right-wing.
Man City predicted line up vs Sporting CP – UCL:
Predicted Starting Line up(4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte; Rodri, Gundogan/Silva, De Bruyne; Foden/Grealish, Mahrez, Raheem Sterling.
