How Man City could line up against Copenhagen

How Man City could line up against Copenhagen

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is expected to be working with a fully-fit squad for Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 first leg with Copenhagen at Parken Stadium.

 

 

No Citizens athletes are currently in the care of the medical team, and the only slight concern for Guardiola to take into account is disciplinary-related, as Ruben Dias is one booking away from incurring a Champions League ban.

 

Then again, if City are able to glean a healthy advantage in Scandinavia, it may be preferable for Dias to enter the referee’s book on Tuesday evening, thus sitting out the second leg but ensuring that his slate is wiped clean for the quarter-finals.

 

Whether Guardiola takes such hypotheticals into account is another question entirely, but the Portuguese is nevertheless primed to partner John Stones in front of undisputed number one goalkeeper Ederson.

 

A couple of changes at the back should not go amiss with a full complement of players to pick from, as Kyle Walker and Josko Gvardiol seek to demote Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake down to the bench for the first leg.

 

The same can be said for Guardiola’s engine room, as Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne were only brought on for the second half against Everton but should now earn recalls to the first XI alongside Rodri – Julian Alvarez and Matheus Nunes would make way.

 

Fresh from making it 50 goals in 50 Premier League starts with his game-winning brace on Saturday, the fit-and-firing Erling Haaland leads the line upon his return to Nordic territory, most likely with Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden accompanying him.

 

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Doku, Haaland, Foden

 

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