Man City XI vs Bayer Leverkusen: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Champions League

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·25. November 2025

Man City XI vs Bayer Leverkusen: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Champions League

Man City handed a huge fitness boost ahead of tricky European test

Pep Guardiola has rotated his Manchester City team heavily for the Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen.

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Man City welcome the Bundesliga side to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday seeking an immediate response to the defeat by Newcastle in the Premier League at the weekend.

Ahead of the league phase showdown, Guardiola confirmed he has no fresh injury concerns to deal with. Although, midfielders Rodri and Mateo Kovacic remain unavailable for selection.

“Everybody [else is available] for tomorrow,” Guardiola said in Monday’s pre-match press conference.

“Not long [for Rodri tomorrow]. Not sure but not long. In the process and timing on when he will be back. We will wait a little more to make sure he is fine.”

With City facing a hectic fixture schedule, it is no surprise that Guardiola has opted to rotate his squad with one eye on upcoming games against Leeds and Fulham.

There are ten changes in total as Nico Gonzalez is the sole survivor from the side that started at St James’ Park. This means James Trafford is in goal, while John Stones, Nathan Ake and Rayan Ait-Nouri are in the back four.

John Stones gets another Champions League runout

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Guardiola has also recalled Tijjani Reijnders and Rico Lewis in midfield as Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva drop down to the bench.

Omar Marmoush is handed rare start against German opposition, possibly leading the line in the absence of Erling Haaland with Oscar Bobb and Savinho either side of the Egypt international.

Man City XI: Trafford, Khusanov, Stones (C), Ake, Ait-Nouri, Lewis, Nico, Reijnders, Bobb, Savinho, Marmoush