Manchester City head to the Estadio Jose Alvalade tonight for a Champions League showdown against Sporting CP, now under the leadership of future Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
This match marks a critical moment for City as they approach the halfway mark of the revamped Champions League league phase, aiming to secure a firm footing toward the knockout rounds. The encounter in Lisbon brings extra intrigue as Sporting’s current manager, Ruben Amorim, is set to take over at Manchester United, while Sporting Director Hugo Viana will soon replace Txiki Begiristain at City.
Pep Guardiola faces a few key absences for this fixture, as Ruben Dias, John Stones, and Jack Grealish did not make the trip to Portugal. However, there’s a potential boost with Kevin De Bruyne possibly making his return after his early injury against Inter Milan in the opening group stage match. Meanwhile, Kyle Walker and Jeremy Doku have also rejoined the squad, strengthening City’s lineup.