Predicted Starting Line-Up: AS Monaco vs Manchester City (UEFA Champions League) | OneFootball

Manchester City hope to maintain a 100 per cent start to the newest UEFA Champions League campaign as they prepare to take on AS Monaco at the Stade Louis II.

Pep Guardiola’s side delivered a 5-1 drubbing of Burnley at the Etihad Stadium last time out, in large part thanks to an exquisite Jeremy Doku performance and yet another record broken from talisman Erling Haaland – now the top scoring Norwegian in Premier League history.

Despite still having key players on the treatment table, the Blues have certainly found their form of late by climbing the Premier League table, and this translated pleasantly as they bossed Napoli to start their European adventure in style two weeks ago.

AS Monaco will play the role of Manchester City’s latest adversaries on Wednesday night, as the Ligue 1 side will be eager to right their wrongs since a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Club Brugge in Matchweek 1.

The last meeting between these two clubs left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Manchester City faithful, as goals from Kylian Mbappe, Fabinho and Tiemoue Bakayoko in the second-leg of a Champions League Last-16 tie overturned a 5-3 lead and dumped the blues out in 2017.

With Rodri still experiencing knee pain, and Abdukodir Khusanov, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Omar Marmoush still a distance away from returns, here is how we expect Pep Guardiola to look in their first European away day of the season!

Predicted XI

Continuing his dominance between the sticks, there is no reason why Italian giant and new Manchester City No.1 Gianluigi Donnarumma will not keep his place as starting goalkeeper in this Champions League fixture.

Securing his place at right-back last time out, Matheus Nunes will likely proceed as Abdukodir Khusanov’s ongoing replacement after grabbing a goal at the weekend against Burnley as part of a bright overall performance.

The rearguard partnership of Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias has been hugely effective in recent weeks, and the two centre-backs demonstrate a clear understanding of one another, proving to be critical in Manchester City’s return to form.

Upon signing a well deserved five-year contract last week, Nico O’Reilly will now want to perpetuate the endearment that has been held towards him since he arrived on the scene last season. We believe it will be a maintained start at left-back for the Englishman.

Nico has exhibited his ability to hold the No.6 position during Rodri’s absence in the last two matches, and with Pep Guardiola confirming there is still knee pain for Manchester City’s number 16, we think the former FC Porto man is well-suited to make another start.

Tijjani Reijnders has locked down his midfield spot since a £46.3 million move from AC Milan in the summer, adding a new-found connective mind going forward, but also registering his work-rate when out of possession.

Who better to look to for a creative spark than Manchester City’s very own, Phil Foden? The Stockport-born maestro has been impeccable so far this campaign and is eager to regain traction in this central pairing after last season’s disappointment.

Out wide, and despite Pep Guardiola’s confirmation of Savinho preparing to extend his stay with the club, we think Bernardo Silva will add an element of experience in a younger team. Manchester City’s captain could also make a mark against his former employers.

It seems as though Erling Haaland breaks a new record every time he steps foot on the grass, as his two stoppage time strikes at the weekend named him top Norwegian scorer in Premier League history. We expect the Scandinavian to lead the line on Wednesday night in France.

Coming off the back of a dazzling display against Burnley, Jeremy Doku is arguably in the form of his career, and he will undoubtedly be chewing at the bit to further lay down his mark in the left-wing position.

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Nico, Reijnders, Foden; Bernardo, Haaland, Doku.

Substitutes: Trafford, Bettinelli, Lewis, Stones, Ake, Rodri, Kovacic, Mukasa, Bobb, Savinho.