Manchester City’s Champions League campaign kicks off on Tuesday night, as Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Spain to face Sevilla.
The Citizens have a 100% record against the Andalusian outfit, winning all…(checks notes) two of their previous meetings in UEFA competition.
But City head into the fixture lucky to have even got a draw with Aston Villa. How will that impact Guardiola’s famed rotation?
Here’s how we expect them to line up.
GK: Ederson – City’s undisputed number one continues to don the number 31, though hasn’t specified why that in particular.
RB: Joao Cancelo – Now firmly one of the world’s leading left-backs, Cancelo will be shifted back over to his natural side with Kyle Walker missing.
CB: Manuel Akanji – John Stones’ unexpected absence and Aymeric Laporte’s continued recovery mean that surprise summer signing Akanji could come in for his debut.
CB: Ruben Dias – The magnificent, handsome and magnificently handsome Dias has looked more comfortable playing on the left side of defence.
LB: Nathan Ake – Part of City’s remit in signing Akanji was so that Ake could be deployed at left-back more often. Poor Sergio Gomez.
DM: Rodri – One of several players who wasn’t at the races at Villa, but Rodri remains a top defensive midfielder and should have some joy back in his homeland.
CM: Kevin De Bruyne – The marvellous Belgian must be wondering how he hasn’t got his hands on a Champions League winner’s medal yet.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan – Gundogan is now so universally underrated that it won’t be long until he’s deemed overrated again.
RW: Riyad Mahrez – Bernardo Silva got the nod at right wing at the weekend and offered little, so Mahrez could be afforded the start here.
CF: Erling Haaland – Haaland has scored 23 goals in 20 Champions League games. Good luck, Sevilla.
LW: Phil Foden – After fans gave him pelters for not picking out Haaland enough, Foden seems to have struck up a cheerful relationship with the Norwegian.