Manchester City are on an unbeaten 15-game streak in the Premier League and given their comfortable cruise to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, Pep Guardiola should be happy with his team’s form and preparation leading upto the away clash against Sporting CP today.
City will face Tottenham Hotspur in the weekend and even though the Sky Blues have struggled against the Lilywhites in recent times, Pep will not make his team selection keeping that fixture in mind.
Manchester City Team News
Kyle Walker is suspended for this clash. Pep Guardiola has ruled out Jack Grealish while Cole Palmer and Gabriel Jesus give him company on the treatment table.
Joao Cancelo and Kevin de Bruyne are one yellow card away from a one-match suspension.
Manchester City 22-man Travelling Squad
Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Raheem Sterling, Ilkay Gundogan, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Aymeric Laporte, Rodrigo, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez, Joao Cancelo, Ederson, Scott Carson, Kayky, Phil Foden, Liam Delap, Luke Mbete, Cieran Slicker, James McAtee, Romeo Lavia
Predicted Man City Lineup vs Sporting CP (4-3-3)
DEFENCE
Ederson will take up his usual spot in goal. The Portuguese giants are generally known to play attacking football and Ederson could expect to be busier than usual in goal today.
Kyle Walker’s unavailability opens up a dilemma in fullback selection for Pep. But given Zinchenko’s solid showing last weekend, we could see the manager retain him in the Man City lineup.
That should see Joao Cancelo start in his more natural position at right-back while Aymeric Laporte should partner Ruben Dias in central defence.
MIDFIELD
Rodri will come in place of Fernandinho while Kevin de Bruyne will also come back into the Man City lineup.
Ilkay Gundogan has generally been more effective in Europe and Pep might include him in the Man City lineup which will see the KDB-Silva midfield partnership broken up.
ATTACK
Riyad Mahrez should start on the right while Raheem Sterling’s perfect hattrick against Norwich City should see him retain his place on the left flank in the Man City lineup.
If Pep indeed goes with Gundogan in midfield, Bernardo Silva might be pushed forward in a false 9 role which will then see Phil Foden drop to the bench to be used as an impact substitute later on.
