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

Manchester City will continue their UEFA Champions League adventure on Tuesday night as they face Bayer Leverkusen in a bid to maintain an unbeaten record in Europe this campaign. 

City come into this one with a rather sour taste in their mouths after Harvey Barnes’ double at St. James’ Park on Saturday saw Newcastle United take all three points in a match packed with contentious decisions. 

While the game may most likely be remembered for the intense full-time scenes and frustration, the 2-1 defeat saw many positive signs, with Ruben Dias’ strike imprinting his name onto the scoresheet for the first time this season. 

The Blues’ next encounter comes in the form of German outfit Bayer Leverkusen, who travel to the Etihad Stadium in fine form, having lost just two matches since August; against European champions Paris Saint-Germain and German giants Bayern Munich. 

Leverkusen may not have hit the heights of their notorious period under Xabi Alonso, including a memorable invincible League and cup double of 2024, after the Spaniard’s departure to Real Madrid. But since replacing former Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag in September, Kasper Hjulmand certainly seems to have got the cogs turning.

It is the second German side to visit the Etihad Stadium in the UEFA Champions League in a row, and if it is anything akin to Manchester City’s 4-1 dispatching of Borussia Dortmund before the recent international break, the Blues will be in for a refreshing European night. 

With just Rodri and Mateo Kovacic warming the treatment table at present, here’s how we think Manchester City will line-up against Bayer Leverkusen!

Predicted XI

After a great goalkeeping display on Saturday evening, there is no reason why Gianluigi Donnarumma will not keep his place between the sticks as the Italian continues to adorn himself to the fans with each passing game. 

Matheus Nunes has taken his chances at right-back exceptionally well since the injury of Abdukodir Khusanov and has shown his consistency at both ends of the pitch. He should retain his spot for this one.

After netting at the weekend, Ruben Dias will return to the Champions League starting squad following a substitute appearance against Borussia Dortmund. The Portugal international has been a vital component for City this campaign, reflected by 14 starts in 18 games. 

John Stones is fresh from two full matches for England during the break, and after a gruelling injury-riddled battle, we think the Centurion is ready to return to the starting side on a more regular basis. 

There does not seem to be any stopping Nico O’Reilly lately, as the man of the moment goes from strength to strength at every opportunity. His movement from Manchester City academy prospect to England international starter has been much deserved. 

With Rodri still looking towards a future return date and carefully avoiding a rushed recovery, Nico has been a more than welcome understudy this season and has unleashed his full confidence in sky blue in his first full season. 

Tijjani Reijnders in the UEFA Champions League just works. The Dutchman has been exceptional on European nights this season and his patient and fluid style of play has been excellent alongside Phil Foden’s ability to create in tight spaces. 

Jeremy Doku has been terrorising defences all season and seems undroppable when he takes to the pitch. He should take to the field again this time around, but from what wide berth remains to be seen.

It could be no one else in the striker role, could it? Erling Haaland will lead the line on Tuesday night, and the Norwegian will be no doubt eyeing the UEFA Champions League top goalscorer prize come the end of the season. 

There has been a lot of discourse around where Omar Marmoush fits into the starting 11 upon his return from injury, coming back into a team with a free-scoring Erling Haaland and plenty of firepower behind. But we think the Egyptian could get a chance against Leverkusen. 

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

Substitutes: Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Gvardiol, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Bernardo, Cherki, Savinho, Bobb.