Manchester City vs FC Porto: Latest City injury news and predicted City starting eleven | OneFootball

Manchester City begin their 2026-27 UEFA Champions League campaign tonight when they take on Portuguese champions FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão. Enzo Maresca’s side have been given a tough set of Champions League league phase fixtures and they will be eager to start on the right foot tonight. However, they face a tricky away test against a quality side in Portugal.

FC Porto are a quality side and will not be a pushover at the Estádio do Dragão tonight.

FC Porto are managed by Francesco Farioli. The Italian manager guided his team to their first Portuguese Primeira Liga title in four seasons last season. Being strong defensively formed the foundation of FC Porto’s success during the 2025-26 season. Their pressing all over the pitch is a strong feature of their play. That will be an aspect of their play that Manchester City will have to aware of tonight. In possession, Francesco Farioli’s side carry a threat and they typically look to dominate possession. They are a patient side who are packed with quality in the final third.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s match, Enzo Maresca knows a tough test awaits his team. Speaking on FC Porto and their strengths as a team, Maresca said: “It’s a hard place to come; a difficult place to come.”

“They have started really well. In the last 14/15 games in Europe they lost just one, that shows a difficult place to come but we will try our best and try to win the game.”

“It’s a very, very good team. They have different players but in terms of the team it’s very clear in the way they play. They are aggressive without the ball and on the ball, they have a clear style.”

“But we will try our best and try to win the game. The ambition is the same – try to be ourselves and to win games and then we will see.”

Latest City injury and team news.

Manchester City have two players unavailable for tonight’s match due to injury. Nico O’Reilly and Jeremy Doku weren’t named in Manchester City’s travelling squad for City’s opening UEFA Champions League fixture. However, Enzo Maresca did inform the media yesterday that they could be available for the upcoming clash with Manchester United. Speaking on the pairs availability for this Sunday’s Manchester derby, Maresca said: “Nico probably yes, Jeremy we’re not sure yet, we need to wait. Jeremy got injured in the Community Shield. That’s three weeks ago.”

“But he’s back, I don’t know if available for the weekend but slowly, slowly he’s coming back.”

Matheus Nunes told the media last night that he is fully fit and ready to go. That is a boost for Manchester City as they will need their first-choice right-back available for selection. It would almost be a safe assumption that Nunes will start tonight given how important he is to his team.

In terms of team selection, it would not be a major surprise to see Enzo Maresca rotate his squad to some degree tonight. Perhaps Ayyoub Bouaddi could make his first start for Manchester City in midfield tonight. Also, with the Manchester derby on the horizon, perhaps Rayan Ait-Nouri could start at left-back to give him the minutes he needs. In terms of Manchester City’s attack, perhaps Phil Foden could start as the number ten for tonight’s match. My assumption is that Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, and Iliman Ndiaye will start in City’s attack.

My predicted Manchester City starting eleven can be seen below.

Predicted Manchester City starting eleven.