Man City’s Shorthanded Squad Heads to Lisbon: Key Players Missing, Surprise Starters Expected
As Manchester City prepares for their Champions League face-off with Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night, the squad is feeling the impact of missing several core players.
Defensive mainstays John Stones and Ruben Dias have stayed back in Manchester, sidelined due to ongoing injuries, and join a list of absentees that includes Rodri, Oscar Bobb, and Jack Grealish. Although recovering players like Jeremy Doku, Savinho, and Kevin De Bruyne managed to make the bench in their last match against Bournemouth, Pep Guardiola is facing tough decisions on how best to navigate this game with limited depth.
With a trip to Brighton looming this weekend and the international break on the horizon, Guardiola is aiming to leave Portugal with a clean bill of health and a favorable result. However, he may have to juggle his lineup carefully, as match fitness constraints could limit his ability to rest certain players after the weekend loss to Bournemouth.
Guardiola’s Predicted Lineup: Surprises in Goal and Defense
In a shake-up, Guardiola has confirmed that Stefan Ortega will get a rare start between the posts, while Rico Lewis is expected to step in at right-back, with Kyle Walker still struggling to find his rhythm. Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake are the only available center-backs for the night, while Josko Gvardiol is likely to anchor the left side of defense.
Midfield will be led by Mateo Kovacic, potentially paired with veteran Ilkay Gundogan. Bernardo Silva remains crucial to City’s midfield setup, while Matheus Nunes, riding a wave of strong performances, could take the left flank. In the attack, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland are likely to lead the charge, with Doku and Savinho set to bring fresh legs off the bench as they work their way back to full fitness. As for De Bruyne, Guardiola appears to be taking a cautious approach with the Belgian playmaker, who is unlikely to see significant minutes as he eases back into form.
Projected Manchester City XI: Ortega, Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Foden, Nunes, Haaland
