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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Ricky Charlesworth

Jack Grealish and Aymeric Laporte to start — Man City predicted line-up vs FC Copenhagen

Pep Guardiola could tinker with his line-up as Manchester City look to secure their place in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday. City travel to face FC Copenhagen (5.45pm) knowing that a fourth straight group stage win would seal qualification with two games to spare.

Last week saw City dismantle the Danish champions 5-0 at the Etihad before doing a similar job on Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, winning 4-0. Guardiola shuffled his pack at the weekend with five changes and could again rotate with an away trip to Liverpool on the horizon on Sunday.

In defence Aymeric Laporte is gradually being eased back in after a lay-off owing to knee surgery he underwent last May. The Spanish international played the full 90 minutes against Copenhagen last week and after being rested against the Saints, he could return to the line-up on Tuesday.

Read more: Danes vow to devise plan to stop 'killer' Haaland

Guardiola may well decide to give Ruben Dias a night off so Nathan Ake could keep his spot at centre-back, while the Netherlands international was summoned for media duty to indicate he will play a part. Sergio Gomez and Joao Cancelo have started two of three Champions League games so far at full-back so could get the nod again here.

Riyad Mahrez is beginning to find form again after netting in his last two games, so he could keep his place in a midfield four.

Goal machine Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez could again form a front two, like they did against the Danes last Wednesday. In midfield, Kevin De Bruyne will likely keep his place alongside Rodri with Jack Grealish looking for a recall after starting all three previous Champions League matches.

Kalvin Phillips (shoulder) and Kyle Walker (groin) are definitely unavailable here, while John Stones is also still recovering from a hamstring injury that he picked up while on England duty.

Predicted XI to face Copenhagen : Ederson; Cancelo, Laporte, Ake, Gomez; Mahrez, Rodri, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland, Alvarez.

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