Guardiola To Make 8 Changes – Predicted 4-3-3 Manchester City Lineup To Face FC Basel In Champions League
Manchester City have been the undisputed Premier League leaders who are miles ahead of their closest counterparts. They have maintained a similar profile in Champions League as well, demolishing FC Basel 4-0 in the first-leg at St. Jakob-Park. The Swiss Super League leaders were no match for the Citizens and might expect even further humiliation when they contest Pep Guardiola’s men in the Round of 16 return leg tie at the Etihad Stadium.
Team News
City are likely to make a few changes as the second leg fixture is now nothing but a formality. However, a hamstring injury will keep Fernandinho out of the tie whereas Raheem Sterling is also unlikely to feature against the Swiss champions. Benjamin Mendy continues to remain sidelined with an ACL injury suffered earlier this campaign.
Predicted Manchester City XI
Formation (4-3-3)
Pep Guardiola has not been much experimental with the formation and is likely to field his side in a 4-3-3 set up on Wednesday night.
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Claudio Bravo (GK)
The Chilean has been restricted to Cup games for the Citizens but might be handed a Champions League outing over first-choice Ederson when they host FC Basel at the Etihad.
Danilo (RB)
The Brazilian has mostly been used as a squad player and has featured as the deputy of Kyle Walker. Danilo, however, is set to start on Wednesday night and occupy a slot in his preferred right-back role.
Vincent Kompany (CB)
The skipper did not feature against Chelsea but is likely to return to the lineup against the Swiss outfit.
John Stones (CB)
The Englishman has been rotated alongside Kompany and Laporte for a first-team role and is tipped to start the midweek game alongside Vincent Kompany.
Fabian Delph (LB)
Oleksandr Zinchenko, the young Ukrainian, has done a stellar job in a makeshift left-back role but is likely to be rested on Wednesday night and replaced by Fabian Delph, who could not feature against Chelsea due to suspension.
Yaya Toure (CDM)
The Ivorian has not started any Premier League game this season but he has appeared twice in the Champions League group stage outings and might be handed a rare start against FC Basel in a central midfield role.
Kevin De Bruyne (RCM)
The Belgian dictates the game and controls the flow with his movements, accurate passing as well as vision. He is likely to keep his place in the squad and grab a win against the midweek counterparts.
Ilkay Gundogan (LCM)
The German midfielder is back to his very best after shaking off injury disappointment and netting a brace in the first leg tie against Basel. Gundogan is expected to keep hold of his place in the starting XI and clinch another comprehensive win against the Swiss side.
Bernardo Silva (RW)
The man in form scored his side’s only goal against Chelsea which proved to be the winner. The Portuguese attacker will hope to continue the same if handed another start on the right-hand flank.
Phil Foden (LW)
The promising youngster guided England to win the U17 World Cup football competition and has also been awarded senior minutes occasionally by Guardiola. The teenager might be handed a rare start on the other flank at Etihad.
Gabriel Jesus (ST)
The young Brazilian returned from his long-term injury and likely to be handed his first start in months in place of Sergio Aguero.
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