Fansided

Manchester City vs Middlesbrough: Combined Starting XI

ByBen Kupiszewski|

BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 19: Players of Manchester City FC pose for a team photo before the UEFA Champions League group C match between FC Barcelona and Manchester City FC at Camp Nou on October 19, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

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Lionel Messi of Barcelona gets tackled by Manchester City’s Fernandinho during UEFA Champions League – Group C match between Manchester City and Barcelona at City of Manchester Stadium on November 1, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Left central defensive midfielder: Fernandinho

Fernandinho is a workhorse in the middle. Even as he struggles for fitness to play Saturday, he’s still better than anything Boro’s got. Case in point: See how the Brazilian is haranguing Lionel Messi and Barcelona’s vaunted midfielders all of Tuesday night.