Manchester City are getting ready to do something they have never done before, which is to defend the Champions League title.
Pep Guardiola’s side finally got their hands on the trophy that had alluded them last season and now they will be the team that everyone is desperate to beat. They’ll be getting eased into things, though, as their visitors at the Etihad Stadium are Red Star Belgrade.
It is the sort of match that we’ve routinely seen City make light work of in the Champions League over the last few years, and there is an expectation that it could be a goal-laden evening for the Cityzens.
Here is the team that City are likely to field against Red Star as they seek the perfect start to their Champions League defence.
GK: Ederson – There is a chance that Guardiola will use Stefan Ortega for the group stage of the Champions League but he could want to secure those first three points by leaving Ederson in nets.
RB: Rico Lewis – This should be a very good opportunity to give Kyle Walker a little rest, not that he even seems to need it, and allow Rico Lewis to get some more valuable experience in the Champions League.
CB: Manuel Akanji – We’re not predicting too many players to hold their places from West Ham but Manuel Akanji may be left in for some continuity.
CB: Nathan Ake – In order to give Ruben Dias a break, Nathan Ake could start in the centre of the defence rather than as a full-back.
LB: Sergio Gomez – Much like Rico Lewis, this is the sort of scenario where Sergio Gomez needs to be getting starts and he will likely impress again.
CM: Rodri – The Spaniard is just so important to Man City that it is really hard to imagine Guardiola ever picking a starting eleven without him.
CM: Matheus Nunes – He played the last 20 or so minutes against West Ham to make his debut and this may be the ideal chance to give him a start.
RW: Phil Foden – There are fewer rotational options for Guardiola in this area of the pitch, especially with Cole Palmer now gone and Kevin de Bruyne injured, so Foden should stay on the right.
AM: Bernardo Silva – He grabbed a vital goal against West Ham and as with Foden, there is little scope for him to be dropped in the Champions League.
LW: Jeremy Doku – He scored his first goal for the club against West Ham and he will think there is a chance for some more against Red Star Belgrade.
ST: Julian Alvarez – He may well play it safe with Erling Haaland, but Alvarez deserves the chance to lead the line here and were anything to go wrong, they can just bring Haaland on to sort it out.
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