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How Manchester City could line up against Olympiacos

Sports Mole looks at how Manchester City could line up for their Champions League showdown with Olympiacos on Tuesday evening.

Manchester City will endeavour to make it three wins out of three in the 2020-21 Champions League when they play host to Greek Super League champions Olympiacos at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

Pep Guardiola's men have recorded comfortable victories over Porto and Marseille thus far in Group C, and will firmly cement their position atop the rankings should they triumph again on matchday three.

The Citizens prepared for Tuesday's bout with a slender 1-0 win over a struggling Sheffield United side on Halloween, with Kyle Walker's first-half strike against his old club proving the difference at Bramall Lane.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Man City could line up for Tuesday's visit of Olympiacos.



POSS MNC XI vs. OLY

Out: Sergio Aguero (hamstring), Benjamin Mendy (muscle), Fernandinho (leg)
Doubtful: Gabriel Jesus (thigh)

> Click here for Manchester City's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Guardiola has recently led calls for the five substitutes rule to be re-introduced amid an unforgiving fixture schedule, with the City manager already having a number of absentees to contend with for Tuesday's game.

Sergio Aguero is still sidelined and the striker is joined by Fernandinho and Benjamin Mendy, with none of the trio likely to take to the field after the international break, but Gabriel Jesus has an outside chance of playing a part after stepping up his recovery from a thigh injury.

City also have a crunch match with Liverpool to navigate next weekend, meaning that Guardiola will look to put out a lineup strong enough to march to victory on Tuesday, but the City manager will need to be wary of fatigue before the champions visit the Etihad next Sunday.

The absences of Aguero and Jesus all but guarantees that Ferran Torres will start up top again, and the Spaniard is likely to be partnered by Riyad Mahrez and the returning Phil Foden, meaning that Raheem Sterling may be granted a rest.

Another big-hitter who could be given the night off is Kevin De Bruyne, who has recently returned from injury himself, with Ilkay Gundogan expected to return to the middle of the park alongside Rodri and Bernardo Silva.

With City's injury problems in defence eased by the returns of Nathan Ake, Aymeric Laporte and Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ederson may be commanding an unfamiliar backline with Guardiola able to afford a reshuffle for Tuesday's showdown with Olympiacos.

Saturday's match-winner Walker is due a rest at some point and could be given it here, with Joao Cancelo potentially switching flanks and Zinchenko coming in on the left-hand side.

The early signs are promising for the centre-back partnership of Laporte and Ruben Dias, who will both need to be at the top of their game against Liverpool, but Ake could make his return from injury here with Eric Garcia also vying for a recall to the first XI.

ID:420601:cQx

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

Manchester City
Draw
Olympiacos
Manchester City
75.7%
Draw
12.6%
Olympiacos
11.7%
111
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Kyle Walker celebrates with teammates after scoring for Manchester City against Sheffield United in the Premier League on October 31, 2020
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Liverpool96212116520
3Chelsea953122101218
4Leicester CityLeicester96031812618
5Southampton95221713417
6Everton95131916316
7Aston Villa85031911815
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham94231510514
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves9423910-114
10Manchester UnitedMan Utd84131314-113
11Crystal Palace94141213-113
12Arsenal9414910-113
13Manchester CityMan City83321011-112
14Leeds UnitedLeeds93241417-311
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle93241015-511
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton92341315-29
17Burnley8125412-85
18Fulham9117918-94
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom9036618-123
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd9018415-111

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