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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

Man City XI vs Chelsea FC: Confirmed lineup, latest team news - Raheem Sterling starts Champions League Final

Pep Guardiola has handed Raheem Sterling a surprise start for Manchester City as they look to beat Chelsea in the Champions League Final tonight.

Guardiola has a fully fit squad to choose from - provided Ilkay Gundogan recovers from a thigh knock suffered on the eve of the final - as he looks to win his third Champions League title as manager, and City's first as a club.

Even so, the City boss had three issues to resolve: left-back, central midfield and his front three; so not insignificant.

Guardiola has opted to pick Sterling to lead the line instead of his usual striker-less system, while Sergio Aguero is on the bench as he hopes for his final minutes in a City shirt.

Further back, Rodri and Fernandinho may both find themselves starting to handle N'Golo Kante and Jorginho, partnered by the more attack-minded Gundogan, if he’s fit. Bernardo Silva will be vying for a starting spot.

Joao Cancelo has lost out in his battle with Oleksandr Zinchenko for the left side of defence, while Fernandinho is on the bench as Guardiola opts for a midfield three of Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.

Man City predicted XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko; Gundogan, Rodri, Bernardo; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Foden

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez, Sterling, Foden

Subs: Steffen, Carson, Ake, Jesus, Aguero, Laporte, Rodri, Ferran, Mendy, Fernandinho, Cancelo, Garcia

Man City confirmed travelling squad

Goalkeepers: Ederson, Scott Carson, Zack Steffen, James Trafford

Defenders: Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Aymeric Laporte, Benjamin Mendy, Joao Cancelo, Eric Garcia

Midfielders: Ilkay Gundogan, Rodrigo, Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Ferran Torres

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