Manchester City Predicted XI: We predict manager Pep Guardiola’s starting XI as Manchester City travel to Marseille in the Champions League
Pep's city are on a roll.
Manchester City Predicted XI: We predict manager Pep Guardiola’s starting XI as Manchester City travel to Marseille in the Champions League.
The games are coming thick as fast for all elite teams around Europe as domestic football is being played alongside Champions League football.
A manager and team that are used to regular big games are certainly Guardiola and his City side who face Marseille in a difficult encounter tonight.
Coming off the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw away at West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday, the Citizens will be hoping to bounce back with a European win tonight.
The North West giants top Group C after the first round of matches and will be hoping to move to six points by overcoming the Ligue 1 side.
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:
It’s clear that Guardiola is yet to decide on his strongest centre back pairing as he seems to switch players out almost every game. Ruben Dias was brought to the club at the back-end of the transfer window, as Guardiola did not feel his team had enough. We expect Dias to start tonight alongisde other summer recruit Nathan Ake. Joao Cancelo has been very bright at left back, but we believe Benjamin Mendy will get the nod with his Ligue 1 experience. Kyle Walker is likely to start on the opposite flank.
Midfielders:
Having both been controversially starting on the bench against the Hammers at the weekend, we expect both Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne to start tonight, as Guardiola will be hoping for a lot more attacking creativity. We expect, Fernandinho to show his Champions League experience and sit behind these two in the midfield alongside Rodri.
Forwards:
That leaves space for just two out and out attackers, as this City side are desperately short in that area following the injuries to both Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero. Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez are the likely two to get the start tonight and will be under pressure to bag the goals for the Citizens.
Predicted XI: Ederson, Walker, Ake, Dias, Mendy, Fernandinho, Rodri, Foden, de Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling