What is Manchester City’s possible starting line-up vs Borussia Dortmund today in Champions League?
A host of Man City players are set to face their former club as Pep Guardiola’s men take on Dortmund in Champions League Group G.
Erling Haaland is one of a number of Manchester City players poised to face their former club when the Sky Blues host Borussia Dortmund in Champions League Group G on Wednesday night, as the 2021 finalists look to take a giant step towards qualification for the knockout stages.
After thrashing Sevilla 4-0 in the opening game of their European campaign last Tuesday, City face a Dortmund side that also enjoyed a comprehensive victory a week ago, thumping group minnows Copenhagen 3-0.
Pep Guardiola’s men head into matchday two having had an eight-day rest, after the weekend’s Premier League fixtures were postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Hungry Haaland out for more in crucial Group G clash
Having scored twice against Sevilla, Haaland now has 12 goals in his first eight games since joining City in the summer, and has taken his career Champions League tally to a record 25 in 20 appearances. On Wednesday, the prolific Norwegian will again lead the line in what is a crunch top-of-the-table clash.
After all, with a double-header against Copenhagen up next, victory over Dortmund would present City with a golden opportunity to collect 12 points from the first four matchdays - a haul that would almost certainly leave the Premier League champions home and hosed before they close out the group stage away in Germany and at home to Sevilla. Only once before - Napoli in 2013/14 - has a team finished outside the top two of a Champions League group with 12 points.
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Akanji in line to retain place in City line-up
After joining Haaland in swapping Dortmund for City during the transfer window, central defender Manuel Akanji impressed in his debut against Sevilla, and may well keep his place in the side ahead of John Stones and Nathan Aké. Stones is fit again after missing the trip to Seville with an injury picked up against Aston Villa at the start of September, but seems likelier not to start.
With right-back Kyle Walker still unavailable after also picking up an issue in the win at Villa, another ex-Dortmund player signed this summer, Sergio Gómez, looks set to play at left-back once more, with João Cancelo again shifting over to the right flank.
In midfield, meanwhile, Ilkay Gündogan - who spent five years at BVB before moving to Manchester in 2016 - is in the frame to start alongside Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne.
Laporte closing in on return
Central defender Aymeric Laporte continues his recovery from summer knee surgery, Guardiola telling reporters on Tuesday that the Spain international can be expected to return to action in early October. “After the international break, he will be ready for us to think about using him,” the City head coach said.
Wednesday’s game will be Guardiola’s 150th in the Champions League as a coach.
Potential Manchester City line-up vs Borussia Dortmund:
Ederson, Cancelo, Akanji, Dias, Gómez, Rodri, Gündogan, De Bruyne, Silva, Haaland, Foden.