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

Manchester City take a flight to the eastern coast of Spain on Tuesday night as their UEFA Champions League campaign gets back into action away to Villarreal following the October international break.

The Blues come into this one off the back of an excellent second-half performance at home to Everton last Saturday afternoon, which saw two Erling Haaland goals in quick succession secure all three points for Manchester City.

Performances were applauded all-round as a valiant team effort overcame a mighty defensive unit after a rigorous first 45. The effort was enough to fire City into a temporary top spot in the Premier League table, which will only add fuel to the flames of confidence striding into the next stretch of the season.

Last time out in the UEFA Champions League, City were stung by a late and coolly dispatched Eric Dier spot kick away to AS Monaco, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of the Citizens after an onslaught of possession led to plenty of missed chances to put the game to bed.

As for this week’s opponents Villarreal, the Spaniards sit third in La Liga behind only Real Madrid and Barcelona. But having picked up just one point from two European outings so far this season, they will be fighting to turn it around with a statement result when they host City.

The Yellow Submarine have been no pushover in recent times, looking back in fondness at their 2021/22 Champions League campaign, where only a late trio of Liverpool goals at Estadio de la Ceramica prevented them from a historic European final against eventual winners Real Madrid.

With statement weekend performances, injury returns and further sideline delays, this how we expect Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City line-up to look in their Tuesday night trip to Estadio de la Ceramica!

Predicted XI

It would take a mammoth effort to usurp Italian giant Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal at the moment, with the 26-year-old having only conceded four goals in his eight games so far, coupled with a sparkling rapport with the fans.

Matheus Nunes put out a marvellous display at right-back in the win over Everton, and with Abdukodir Khusanov’s return from injury extended further, the Brazilian has another chance to make a case for the permanent position.

Having started all but just two matches this season for both Manchester City and Portugal, Ruben Dias has been a defensive stalwart in a rapidly adapting side.

After being benched at the weekend following Pep Guardiola’s admission of exhaustion surrounding City’s reigning Player of the Year, we think Josko Gvardiol will return to the team sheet for the latest European adventure.

Rapidly becoming all three of a fan, manager and team favourite, academy graduate Nico O’Reilly’s stature in the first-team squad looks cast-iron, especially off the back of his first England call up.

Nico has been flourishing in the anchor position over the past few weeks for City, and with yet another Rodri injury setback, the former FC Porto man will continue to plug the gaps in the meantime.

A midfield pairing of Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden has featured in every Premier League and Champions League match since City’s last defeat, coming away at Brighton in August. The two seem to have found an exciting rhythm together across that unbeaten stretch.

Out wide, captain Bernardo Silva‘s influence off the bench against Everton proved key in what was a rigid match to arrive into. His experience and wisdom is often vital on European nights like these.

With a staggering 14 goals in his 10 appearances for Manchester City so far this season, there doesn’t look to be any way of stopping super Erling Haaland when he takes to the pitch at present, and his starting position will no doubt remain for the time being.

Jeremy Doku has certainly found his feet in sky blue this season and continues to create bountiful chances week in week out. He should retain a role on the left of an attacking trio in Spain.

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

Substitutes: Trafford, Bettinelli, Lewis, Stones, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Kovacic, Cherki, Savinho, Bobb, Marmoush.