Manchester City Predicted XI: We predict manager Pep Guardiola’s starting XI as City host Greek outfit Olympiacos in the Champions League
Pep's city are on a roll.
Manchester City Predicted XI: We predict manager Pep Guardiola’s starting XI as City host Greek outfit Olympiacos in the Champions League.
Despite some inconsistent results in the Premier League, all is looking rosy for the Citizens in Europe’s elite competition with Guardiola’s side sitting top of Group C with two wins from two.
With Liverpool to face at the weekend in a huge Premier League clash, Guardiola is likely to attempt to rest some key players to try and keep his squad as fresh as possible.
Guardiola’s men still face injury issues in the striking positions, but Pep will feel his team has enough to overcome the Greek champions.
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. The goalkeeper position is one of the only areas on the pitch where City do not have vast injuries problems.
Defenders:
Nathan Ake is likely to make his Champions League debut tonight, with Pep making the decision to give Aymeric Laporte a well-earned rest ahead of the weekend’s clash. We believe Ake will start alongside Ruben Dias who has hardly missed a minute since signing for the Sky Blues in October. Cancelo might also be rested for Benjamin Mendy, with Kyle Walker coming out for Oleksandr Zinchenko on the opposite flank.
Midfielders:
Like the rest of his team, Guardiola is not afraid to tinker with his midfield. Phil Foden is a definite player tonight, as he looks to continue his good run of form. We also believe Rodri will start the match in the holding role and Ilkay Gundogan given the freedom to go from box-t0-box. Kevin De Bruyne is likely to be given a rest tonight, with Guardiola wanting his star man to be as fresh as possible going into the weekend.
Forwards:
Once again, Guardiola has very few options to choose from. However, the City squad has received a boost with the news that both Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus are not too far away from selection. Focussing on tonight though, we expect Raheem Sterling to be given a rest. Which leaves the talented Bernardo Silva to play alongside Ferran Torres and Riyad Mahrez in the forward positions.
Predicted XI: Ederson, Zinchenko, Ake, Dias, Mendy, Gundogan, Rodri, Foden, Silva, Mahrez, Torres