Predicted Starting Line-Up: Tottenham vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City take on Tottenham on Sunday in the wake of a midweek win over Galatasaray that secured qualification to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

City’s focus shifts back to domestic matters after a composed 2-0 win over the Turkish champions at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, a result that extended their winning run to two matches – following a poor start to 2026.

Pep Guardiola’s side wasted little time in asserting control in midweek as just 11 minutes in, Jeremy Doku slipped an inch-perfect through ball into the path of Erling Haaland, who delicately lifted the ball over the helpless Ugurcan Çakır to score his 56th Champions League goal in as many appearances.

City doubled their advantage 18 minutes later, once again through the influence of Doku. The winger claimed his second assist of the evening, laying the ball off for Rayan Cherki, who confidently rifled a brilliant finish into the bottom left corner to leave the visitors stunned.

From that point on, City delivered a measured and mature performance, controlling proceedings in a manner that has at times eluded them in recent weeks.

Galatasaray were largely kept at arm’s length, with Nico O’Reilly and Abdukodir Khusanov particularly impressive as they nullified the threat of former City winger Leroy Sane and prolific striker Victor Osimhen.

With three points secured and progression to the knockout stages confirmed, it proved to be a professional and convincing European night for Guardiola’s side, achieved despite the efforts of the travelling support to generate a hostile atmosphere inside the Etihad Stadium.

With Arsenal now just four points ahead at the top of the league, Manchester City now face Tottenham, who have been a bogey team for the Blues under Guardiola. However, buoyed by the two previous wins and with the top spot being within touching distance, City will have every reason to feel confident going into this one.

Spurs enter Sunday evening’s game in 14th place with no wins from their last five league games. Their last match ended in a 2-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt, leading them through to the Champions League Round of 16 with an impressive fourth-place finish in the group phase.

As far as availability goes – Ruben Dias, John Stones, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic and Savinho all remain unavailable for City. Jeremy Doku is ruled out of contention after suffering a calf injury against Galatasaray.

Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo and Rodri are available again after being ineligible to play in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Here is how we expect Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to line up on Sunday evening:

Predicted XI

Gianluigi Donnarumma is all but guaranteed to keep his place between the sticks this weekend. The Italian shotstopper kept his 12th clean sheet in 27 matches on Wednesday as City walked away with their third clean sheet of the Champions League league phase. He’ll be looking for his third consecutive clean sheet to make 10 in the Premier League this season.

In right-back, who else but Matheus Nunes? The Portugal international has made the position his own this season, with recent performances calling into question whether a new signing is even needed to fill the spot going forward.

His sensational cross for Omar Marmoush’s opener against Wolves underlined exactly why Pep Guardiola has trusted him so heavily this season and highlighted just how much City missed his influence while he was sidelined with flu.

Abdukodir Khusanov has more than earned his spot in the centre of defence after stepping in for injured duo Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. Another mature performance against Galatasaray showed exactly why City rushed to secure his signature in January 2025 as he kept Osimhen at bay almost singlehandedly.

Partnering Khusanov will likely be Marc Guehi, who impressed on his debut in a 2-0 win over Wolves last week. The £20 million Manchester City signing slotted into the starting XI seamlessly, with his brilliant block at the death of the game keeping the clean sheet in tact.

His absence from the UEFA Champions League squad on Wednesday means he will be well rested to face a Spurs side who have caused the Blues plenty of issues in recent meetings.

Despite Rayan Ait-Nouri’s excellent performance at left-back slot on Wednesday, Nico O’Reilly looks set to get the nod once more. The 20-year-old was nothing short of incredible against Galatasaray in midfield, with only Bernardo Silva covereing more distance than O’Reilly’s 11.6 km – and only the Manchester City skipper completing more passes than O’Reilly’s 71.

Ait-Nouri would be rather unlucky to miss out but with O’Reilly in the form that he is in, it’s an incredibly tough call. One can expect the former to get some minutes off the bench, though.

Rodri is likely to reclaim his spot in the midfield against Tottenha, with Nico having only made his return from a spell on the sidelines off the bench against Galatasaray.

The 29-year-old was unavailable for UEFA Champions League action in midweek after being shown a red card against Bodo/Glimt, having been forced to rest for Wednesday night – meaning he’ll be the perfect candidate to anchor City’s midfield against Spurs.

Bernardo Silva rolled back the years on Wednesday night and though the Portuguese looks set to leave in the summer, he will be desperate to do everything he can to leave with silverware, making him the perfect man to lead the team out on Sunday.

Phil Foden has struggled for form in recent weeks but there is no doubting his abilities. He was unlucky not to have scored against Galatasaray, seeing a close range effort go over the bar on the stroke of half-time. Despite this, it’s his ability to put himself in those sorts of positions that makes him invaluable to Guardiola.

Rayan Cherki was amongst the goals once again on Wednesday, marking his 18th goal involvement this season in 32 matches since joining from Lyon for £34 million last summer. The Frenchman has been in incredible form this season and wherever he goes, goals tend to follow.

Cherki, Foden, and Silva will likely rotate between the midfield positions and the right flank – as we have seen so many times this season to great effect.

Erling Haaland grabbed his 56th UEFA Champions League goal against Galatasaray after a relatively quiet spell in the final third for the Norwegian. He has either scored or assisted all of City’s last four goals against Tottenham (three goals and an assist), so Thomas Frank’s men will know more than anyone just how dangerous City’s number nine can be.

Even in a dry patch, Haaland demands so much attention from the defence that his mere presence alone creates a whole host of attacking options for the City frontline. Dropping Omar Marmoush feels harsh after his return to scoring against Wolves, but it would take an incredible effort to displace Haaland in a game like this.

Taking up the final spot, Antoine Semenyo is set to make a return to the starting XI. The former Bournemouth man has made an incredible start to life at the Etihad Stadium, with yet another goal last weekend against Wolves.

He scored against Tottenham on his final appearance for the Cherries earlier this month, securing a 3-2 win with his final touch of the ball before departing to join the Blues the next day. His goalscoring prowess adds an element to City’s wing play that has been sorely missed in recent seasons.

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo (C), Foden; Cherki, Haaland, Semenyo.

Substitutes: Trafford, Lewis, Alleyne, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Nico, Reijnders, R. Heskey, Marmoush.