MX23RW : Saturday, December 15 07:02:48

How Manchester City could line up against Hoffenheim

Ahead of the Champions League clash between Manchester City and Hoffenheim at the Etihad Stadium, Sports Mole looks at how the hosts could line up.

Manchester City welcome Hoffenheim to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night with a place in the last 16 of the Champions League already confirmed.

The Citizens must now avoid defeat to the Bundesliga side to hold off Lyon for top spot in Group F, setting up a favourable two-legged tie in the first knockout round.

Home boss Pep Guardiola may be tempted to make changes on the back of Saturday's 2-0 loss to Chelsea, but there is still some work to be done when Hoffenheim arrive in midweek.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how City could line up for their final group match.

Possible MCI XI vs. HOF

Out: Sergio Aguero (groin), Claudio Bravo (Achilles), Kevin De Bruyne (ligament), Benjamin Mendy (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (nose), Eliaquim Mangala (knee)
Doubtful: David Silva (hamstring)

Guardiola may consider recalling Gabriel Jesus to his starting lineup after going without a recognised striker in the defeat to Chelsea.

Aguero remains absent with a groin problem, so Jesus - who bagged a hat-trick against Shakhtar Donetsk in his most recent European outing - is primed to start.

A defensive reshuffle is also likely, as Nicolas Otamendi and Danilo were both kept on the bench at Stamford Bridge and will be raring to go, likely meaning a rest for John Stones and Kyle Walker.

Elsewhere, Guardiola may see this as a good opportunity to give academy product Phil Foden a first start of the season in the Premier League or Champions League, while at the same time retaining some midfield experience alongside the youngster as City attempt to get the job done with minimal fuss.

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Who will win Tuesday's Champions League clash between Manchester City and Hoffenheim?

Manchester City
Draw
Hoffenheim
Manchester City
81.8%
Draw
5.5%
Hoffenheim
12.7%
Raheem Sterling celebrates putting his side back ahead during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Bournemouth on December 1, 2018
Read Next:
How Man City could line up against Chelsea
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1613303462842
2Manchester CityMan City1613214593641
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs16120430161436
4Chelsea16104233132034
5Arsenal16104235201534
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd167542826226
7Everton166642319424
8Bournemouth167272526-123
9Leicester CityLeicester166462120122
10Wolverhampton WanderersWolves166461719-222
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham166372325-221
12Watford166372023-321
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166371922-321
14Cardiff CityCardiff1642101530-1514
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle163491322-913
16Crystal Palace1633101323-1012
17Burnley1633101532-1712
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield1624101027-1710
19Southampton161691330-179
20Fulham1623111640-249

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