Man City predicted lineup vs Club Brugge - Champions League | OneFootball

Manchester City face a crunch clash with Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday evening as they look to secure their place in the knockout phase of the competition.

Man City's torrid European campaign has left them in a perilous position heading into Matchday 8 and they know victory is needed to qualify for the play-offs and avoid a surprise elimination. They will have to end Club Brugge's 20-game unbeaten run to reach the next round.

The Cityzens have been in inconsistent and underwhelming form this season but they are slowly improving. Five wins from their last seven highlights their progress, including the weekend's important victory over Chelsea, but they can ill-afford complacency against their Belgian opponents on Wednesday.

Here is how Man City could line up for a hugely significant encounter.

Man City predicted lineup vs Club Brugge (4-3-3)

John Stones could come into the XI / Carl Recine/GettyImages

GK: Ederson - The Brazilian has started the last three matches having been restored to the XI following Stefan Ortega's run in the side. He's been exposed by a weakened defence in recent weeks and could be tested by Club Brugge's forward line on Wednesday.

RB: Matheus Nunes - Nunes was certainly not signed as Man City's heir to Kyle Walker but the Portuguese midfielder is currently filling in at right-back. He has started the last five games as Rico Lewis struggles for minutes.

CB: John Stones - Abdukodir Khusanov endured a nightmarish debut against Chelsea at the weekend and the January recruit is ineligible to feature against Club Brugge. Stones will return to the team.

CB: Manuel Akanji - With Vitor Reis also ineligible and Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake injured, Akanji is guaranteed to start. The centre-back hasn't been able to save a stuttering defence in recent weeks.

LB: Josko Gvardiol - Gvardiol's defensive mistakes have often proved costly this term but he showcased his attacking potential on Saturday. He scored Man City's equaliser and produced an xG of 1.1.

CM: Kevin De Bruyne - De Bruyne started on the bench at the weekend as Ilkay Gundogan was named in the lineup, but the influential Belgian should return against a team he scored a hat-trick against during his time with Genk in 2011/12.

CM: Mateo Kovacic - Kovacic earned victory against his former employers at the weekend and has been in promising form for Man City. The midfielder would love to score his first European goal for the sky blues midweek.

CM: Bernardo Silva - The diminutive Portuguese midfielder often produces clutch moments for Man City and has done so previously in the Champions League. Pep Guardiola could use a match-defining performance from his No 20.

RW: Phil Foden - After an incredibly slow start to the campaign, Foden has been back to his best in recent matches. His goal against Chelsea means he's now scored six in his last six for Man City.

ST: Erling Haaland - The Norwegian may not have been at his best this term as the service dries up around him, but he has still scored a remarkable 24 goals in 31 matches. Six of those have come in the Champions League.

LW: Savinho - With new signing Omar Marmoush ineligible and Jeremy Doku injured, one would expect Savinho to start ahead of Jack Grealish on Wednesday. Having finally found some form, Guardiola has inexplicably dropped the Brazilian winger for two of the last three games.