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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Marc Mayo

Manchester City XI vs Sporting: Starting lineup, confirmed team news & injury latest for Champions League today

Manchester City have a number of injury issues ahead of their Champions League clash against Sporting CP later today.

City have won their last eight games in a row, including the 5-0 hammering of their last-16 opponents in Lisbon which all-but ended this tie as a contest.

Kevin De Bruyne may not be risked at the Etihad Stadium with the midfielder one yellow card away from a ban in the competition.

Kyle Walker is suspended for the game and Joao Cancelo is out with illness.

Ruben Dias (hamstring) remains absent along with Cole Palmer (ankle) and Zack Steffen (back). Nathan Ake came off injured in the FA Cup win at Peterborough and missed the Manchester derby.

Manager Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday: “I think [Ake will be back in] the next days but tomorrow is too risky and with Ruben out for a long time, we can't lose another centre-back.

“After this game, we will have time to recover but we cannot lose Nathan. It's too risky, the doctor said to me.”

The absences could lead to 18-year-old defender Luke Mbete making an appearance, along with Oleksandr Zinchenko. Guardiola could also choose to start Fernandinho at centre-back, moving John Stones to the right.

“[Mbete] has trained with us for a long time,” said Guardiola. “His application is really high. He's still young but tomorrow he'll be in the team and maybe we'll need him.”

Predicted Manchester City XI: Ederson, Egan-Riley, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, Fernandinho (C), Gundogan, Bernardo, Sterling, Foden, Jesus

Subs: Carson, Slicker, Grealish, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Kayky, Delap, Edozie, Mbete, McAtee

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