Manchester City head to Group A dark horses Club Brugge for the early Champions League kick-off on Tuesday evening.
Indeed, with City currently lying in third position and a point behind both the Belgians and group leaders Paris Saint-Germain, Pep Guardiola’s side are under a relative amount of pressure even at this early stage.
Given the difference in resources available to both clubs, the Premier League champions are likely to be favourites, although Brugge have proven impressive thus far. Joint-top of the Jupiler Pro League after 11 games, they’re unbeaten in Europe, having drawn with PSG and beaten RB Leipzig.
While City’s loss in the French capital last month might have flattered the home side, it does make the trip to Belgium interesting. A loss here and a win for PSG could see the Manchester giants fall four points behind the leaders which, when the groups were drawn, would have seemed hugely unlikely for last year’s beaten finalists.
Guardiola had confirmed plans to make a late decision on both Ederson and Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian duo flew straight to Belgium following their international excursions, with the goalkeeper back in the XI and Jesus on the bench.
Ferran Torres remains the only lengthy absence after suffering a foot injury while away with the Spanish national team.
John Stones made his return to club action in Saturday’s win over Burnley but is absent in Belgium with Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte partnering up at the back.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is available from the bench in a boost to Guardiola’s hopes of keeping the pace at the top of the group.
Manchester City starting XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Mahrez, Grealish
Subs: Steffen, Carson, Ake, Sterling, Gundogan, Jesus, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Palmer.
Club Brugge XI: Mignolet; Mata, Hendry, N’Soki; Sobol, Rits, Balanta, Vanaken, Sowah; Lang, De Ketelaere.
Subs: Maouassa, Ricca, Izquierdo, Vormer, van der Brempt, Dost, Mechele, Mbamba, Lammens.
Tuesday 19th October 5:45pm BST.
Venue: Jan Breydel Stadium
Injured: Ferran Torres (foot)
