Manchester City look likely to recall David Silva, Pablo Zabaleta, John Stones and Ilkay Gundagon for the Champions League trip to Borussia Monchengladbach.
David Silva and Pablo Zabaleta look set to be named in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City starting line-up to face Borussia Monchengladbach after the duo started from the substitutes’ bench for the weekend victory at Crystal Palace.
Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is also expected to start for City in place of last weekend’s two goal hero Yaya Toure, who is ineligible for selection having not been named in Guardiola’s European squad.
Another senior absentee for City will be captain Vincent Kompany, who when returning from his latest injury lay-off against Palace suffered a further set-back in the form of a minor knee ligament injury.
It is anticipated that hard knock of Kompany’s unavailability will be softened by John Stones returning to partner Nicolas Otamendi in central defence.
Ahead of the Group C clash, City sit in second position on seven points, three ahead of their German opponents and two points behind group leaders Barcelona.
City and Monchengladbach also met in the Champions League group stages last season, with the Manchester side getting the better of their German counterparts on both occasions, in addition to their 4-0 victory in this year’s competition back in September.
However, the Citizens are without a win in their last four away Champions League games, so securing the three points against Monchengladbach would be more than welcome.
Predicted XI
Claudio Bravo will continue behind a back four of Zabaleta, Stones, Otamendi and left-back Aleksandar Kolarov – who will be shielded by deep-lying midfielder Fernandinho.
In Guardiola’s fluid four-man central line, Gundogan is expected to be joined in the creative roles by Silva, with Raheem Sterling and Kevin DeBruyne providing the City width and penetrating runs around and beyond the talismanic Sergio Aguero.
The Argentina goal-getter has scored four goals in his last two matches against Monchengladbach, including a hat-trick in September’s reverse fixture.
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