Manchester City vs Sevilla: Confirmed team news, Fans and Media predicted starting XIs

Manchester City host Sevilla on matchday six of the UEFA Champions League group stage this week, finalising their qualification campaign for the knock-out rounds of the competition on Wednesday night.

The Citizens have already qualified for the last 16 as group winners, while the visitors will drop down into the Europa League knockout rounds after securing third spot.

Manchester City are one of only five teams in this season’s Champions League who are yet to lose in the group stage, with victories in their first three matches followed by successive goalless draws against Copenhagen and Borussia Dortmund.

Indeed, a 0-0 stalemate away against Dortmund last week – which saw Riyad Mahrez miss another penalty kick – was enough to secure top spot in Group G for Pep Guardiola’s side as well as help their German counterparts qualify as runners-up, and both sides will discover their fate in the last 16 when the draw is made on November 7.

City returned to winning ways in the Premier League, without the presence of injured goal machine Erling Braut Haaland, when they secured a slender 1-0 away victory against Leicester City on Saturday, courtesy of a stunning Kevin De Bruyne free kick early in the second half.

Although City’s upcoming clash against Sevilla is essentially a dead rubber, Guardiola and co will be keen to come away with a positive result and build momentum ahead of three more important domestic fixtures before the World Cup break.

Fifty-seven days ago, the Citizens cruised to a 4-0 victory against Sevilla in their opening Group G fixture, with Haaland (2), Phil Foden and Ruben Dias all on the scoresheet in Spain.

City will be confident of success again on Wednesday as they have won 81% of their Champions League home games since Guardiola took charge in 2016, the highest home win percentage in the competition’s history after at least 20 games under the same manager. Guardiola himself has a solid record against Sevilla, losing just two of his previous 13 meetings against them as a manager.

Team News

Man City boss Guardiola has confirmed that Haaland will not be involved on Wednesday as he recovers from “ligament damage”, but the Spaniard is hopeful that the striker can return to face Fulham on Saturday.

Cole Palmer is a fitness doubt, while Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips both remain out as they continue to recover from respective groin and shoulder surgeries, but Sergio Gomez is available for selection and could start at left-back after missing last week’s draw with Dortmund due to suspension.

Guardiola is expected to freshen up his starting lineup with his side already through to the knockout rounds, and he may decide to give run-outs to academy graduates Rico Lewis and Josh Wilson-Esbrand either off the bench or from the start.

Should De Bruyne, Rodri or Ilkay Gundogan be given a rest, Bernardo Silva could drop into the midfield three, with Mahrez and Foden in contention to return to the first XI and play in the front three.

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

In what is set to be an enthralling contest, here is how Some Man City Fans and Media expect Pep Guardiola’s side to line-up.

Evening Standard XI : Ortega; Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gomez; Silva, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish.

90min XI: Stefan Ortega; Rico Lewis, Dias, Nathan Ake, Gomez; Rodri, Bernardo, Ilkay Gundogan; Riyad Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish.

Dan Brown (MEN) XI: Ortega; Stones, Dias, Ake, Gomez; Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Mahrez, Alvarez, Foden.

Simon Bajkowski (MEN) XI: Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Ake, Wilson-Esbrand; Gomez, Foden, Gundogan; Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish.

Joe Bray (MEN) XI: Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Ake, Gomez; Gundogan, Palmer, Bernardo Silva; Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish.

Alex Brotherton (MEN) XI: Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Ake, Gomez; Rodri, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva; Palmer, Alvarez, Foden.

City Xtra XI: Stefan Ortega; Rico Lewis, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Josh Wilson-Esbrand; llkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden; Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez, Cole Palmer.

Who do you think will be in the XI against Sevilla?

Best Starting XI base on Majority: Stefan Ortega; Rico Lewis, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Gomez; llkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden; Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez, Jack Grealish.