Pep Guardiola has picked his Manchester City team to face Real Madrid with a strong start in mind.
The Blues expect they will have to work hard for the duration of the game against a team dubbed the kings of the competition by Guardiola, with the bench expected to play an important part. However, the City coach wants his players to start strongly and aggressively against Zinedine Zidane's team as they look to keep their 2-1 advantage from the first leg.
Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus make up the attack while Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne are the three behind them in midfield. There has been a suggestion that City could utilise a false nine - Jesus played on the left wing at the Bernabeu back in February - but when these six players lined up against Liverpool in July it was in an orthodox shape despite there being plenty of movement.
Fernandinho and Sterling made significant contributions off the bench in the first leg, and Guardiola is hoping for an impression from his substitutes to see the Blues through.
"I decide this team selection for the aggression for our three players up front and the midfield," he told BT Sport. "I think we will need David or Bernardo during the game but I want to start strong with a high rhythm and the players we put on the field have this quality."
