Manchester City Predicted XI: We predict manager Pep Guardiola’s starting XI as City face off against Ligue 1 outfit Lyon in the Champions League quarter finals
Pep's city are on a roll.
Manchester City Predicted XI: We predict manager Pep Guardiola’s starting XI as City face off against Ligue 1 outfit Lyon in the Champions League quarter finals.
The Citizens go into tonight’s one-off tie vying for a place in the Champions League semi finals where they will face Bayern Munich in what would be a mouth-watering tie.
However, a victory tonight is certainly not a given, with City’s opponents Lyon knocking out Serie A champions Juventus over two legs in the last 16.
That being said, the Manchester team are strong favourites going into tonight’s encounter being played in Lisbon in Portugal.
Here we predict Guardiola’s XI…
Goalkeeper:
Ederson: The first choice Brazilian will continue to keep his place between the sticks and Guardiola will be hoping his distribution will be key once again.
Defenders:
City announced the signing of Nathan Ake last week, which will be a huge boost to the Manchester side’s defence next season. But for now they will have to focus on what they have. Aymeric Laporte will start alongside Fernandinho with John Stones again not starting a big game for City. That leaves Kyle Walker on the right and Benjamin Mendy playing on the left hand side returning from suspension.
Midfielders:
If City were to lose tonight it would make David Silva’s last game in a Sky Blues shirt. However, we don’t expect the little Spaniard playmaker to start tonight, but he will feature at some point. Kevin de Bruyne will be the first name on the team sheet with Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri sat behind him in a three-man midfield.
Forwards:
With star man Sergio Aguero sidelined, Gabriel Jesus has had all the centre-forward responsibility placed on his shoulders. Raheem Sterling will play off the left-hand side and Phil Foden will be deployed off the right with a lot of pressure placed on the three to create things for City tonight.
Predicted XI: Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Laporte, Mendy; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Sterling, Foden, Jesus.