Man City XI vs Galatasaray: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Champions League today | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola is without several key players for must-win European encounter

Pep Guardiola’s side have lost three of their key centre-backs to long-term issues in John Stones, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, leaving City incredibly short in the heart of defence.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake are their only two senior options to deputise, while youngster Max Alleyne has featured since being recalled from his loan spell at Watford.

It prompted City to move quickly in the transfer market to land Marc Guehi for £20million, though the England international cannot be added to City’s Champions League squad yet. The same is true of Antoine Semenyo.

Now City are in need of a victory to help them into the knockout stages of Europe’s top competition, and they take on Galatasaray in a crucial game at the Etihad Stadium.

City are 11th in the table and within reach of a top-eight finish, but they need results on the final matchday to go in their favour if they are to avoid a play-off round to reach the last 16.

On the fitness front, City rested star men Erling Haaland and Phil Foden from the start in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Wolves in the Premier League, but both players were brought on as second-half substitutes.

Guardiola explained that Haaland was “exhausted” from his recent games, and that the striker’s minutes were being managed. He starts tonight, though Foden is only a substitute again.

Ake is back in for the ineligible Guehi, while Nico O’Reilly is again pushed on into midfield with Rayan Ait-Nouri at left-back. Rodri is suspended, while Nico Gonzalez is only fit enough for the bench.

Jeremy Doku is also recalled in attack as Tijjani Reijnders and Semenyo both drop out.

Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Bernardo, O’Reilly, Marmoush, Cherki, Doku, Haaland

Subs: Trafford, Bettinelli, Reijnders, Nico, Foden, Gray, Mukasa, Alleyne, Lewis, Mfuni

Injured: Dias, Stones, Gvardiol, Bobb, Savinho, Kovacic

Suspended: Rodri

Ineligible: Semenyo, Guehi

Date and time: 8pm GMT on Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Venue: Etihad Stadium

How to watch: TNT Sports