Man City’s possible XI vs RB Leipzig in Champions League

Manchester City travel to Germany to take on RB Leipzig in their Champions League last-16 first leg clash on Wednesday.

Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte will both miss the game tonight due to illness.

Defender John Stones remains sidelined, however, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, and Rico Lewis could return to Pep Guardiola’s side.

City changes

Guardiola is expected to rotate after City were held to a 1-1 with Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday.

Phil Foden could drop to the bench, giving his place to Riyad Mahrez on the right in Germany, with Erling Haaland, returning to a country he knows well from his spell at Borussia Dortmund, set to lead the line for the Premier League team.

The in-form Jack Grealish could make another appearance on the left side of Guardiola’s forward line.

Guardiola’s thoughts

Ahead of Wednesday’s game, Guardiola said: “Right after the draw I knew it, I felt it would be a real tough opponent... This club has a real culture with young players. Physicality, a lot of players in the middle. Huge respect for what they have done.”

“[We have] Two games to make a good performance and control emotions. Try to get a good result for the second leg in Manchester,” the City boss added.

Manchester City’s possible XI vs RB Leipzig

City could line up as follows:

Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Gundogan, Silva; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish.