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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Nathan Bliss

We simulated Man City vs Shakhtar Donetsk to get a score prediction

Fresh from their 2-1 home win against Frank Lampard's Chelsea on Saturday, Manchester City's Champions League campaign gets back underway on Tuesday evening at the Etihad with a home tie against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Pep Guardiola's side will be without Sergio Aguero but Bernardo Silva returns after his suspension at the weekend and is likely to be included in the starting line-up, whilst Gabriel Jesus is set to replace Aguero in attack.

So, what will the final score be at the Etihad?

We used FIFA 20 to predict the outcome of Man City's Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk - for a bit of fun.

Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk simulated on FIFA 20

To set up this simulation, we used kick-off mode within FIFA 20 but didn't select a team to control; we then selected the teams and watched the match play out by itself, to give us a unique prediction.

The AI difficulty was set to world class, with the line-up updated with the latest transfers, injuries and suspensions.

We predict that Man City could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with the line-up as follows: Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Stones, Angelino; Gundogan, Bernardo, Foden; Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez.

We predict that Shakhtar Donetsk could set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their line-up as follows: Pyatov; Bolbat, Matvyenko, Krivtsov, Ismaily; Stepanenko, Alan Patrick; Tete, Kovalenko, Taison; Boryachuk.

(EA SPORTS FIFA)

City started brightly and on the front foot, with Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Mahrez causing the Ukrainian side real problems with their movement.

And, it didn't take long for Mahrez to find the back of the net, for the second game in succession.

Jesus dropped deep and received the ball to feet, before turning and playing in the Algerian on the right, who finished well into the far corner.

(EA SPORTS FIFA)

A great start for City.

(EA SPORTS FIFA)

Guardiola's side continued to dominate the ball, but struggled to create any other clear cut chances, something they would almost live to regret just before half-time, with Taison denied on the break in the 45th minute thanks to a great save from Ederson.

City started the second-half just like they did the first, and they found their second goal just five minutes after the break.

Jesus again dropped deep and opted to play in one of his teammates, this time it was Phil Foden, who ran onto the Brazilian's pass and finished into the far corner.

(EA SPORTS FIFA)

City were now in control of the game and the scoreline.

(EA SPORTS FIFA)

And Foden was on the scoresheet again in the 56th minute, again it was Jesus with the layoff, and the English midfielder made no mistake from just outside the area.

(EA SPORTS FIFA)

In the final thirty minutes, the tempo of the game slowed and City were able to save some energy and legs by taking off Sterling, Jesus and Mahrez late on.

A good win for City.

(EA SPORTS FIFA)

Full-time score: Man City 3-0 Shakhtar Donetsk

Here are the full-time match stats.

(EA SPORTS FIFA)

Phil Foden was the game's Man of the Match, scoring twice and putting in a great performance.

(EA SPORTS FIFA)

However, Gabriel Jesus wasn't far behind, with the Brazilian registering a hat-trick of assists, in the absence of Aguero. 

FIFA 20 predicts that City will have no issues against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday evening, picking up a convincing win.

What do you make of our simulation?

And, what do you think the score will be?

This was a match City dominated from start to finish.
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