Champions League matchday six: Predicted City line-up

When the Champions League fixture list came out one of the first things I looked at was the match taking place before and after each European night. I wasn’t over joyed to see that, before the Manchester derby, City would be away in the Ukraine.

Twenty four hours before City’s game,  Sundays opponents had a home fixture. However, as the games went on we now find things have changed. Heading into the final round of European games with top spot already secured, the pressure has eased somewhat.

Pep has said, all season, that records are only important when you win trophies. With that philosophy to the season I would assume tonight’s game could see a heavily rotated side. Certainly resting Vincent Kompany Sunday was with the derby in mind, rather than this mid-week adventure.

Kevin DeBruyne is suspended for the final game and so didn’t travel, while David Silva picked up a knock in Sundays game against West Ham. It could be mind games from Pep, or it could be genuine. Either way, neither doesn’t travel for tonight’s game, and so get rest.

So how do I think Pep will line up? Well, despite the talk of being not interested in records, this week Guardiola has talked about putting out a strong side in respect for the game. Respect for Napoli and respect for Shakhtar, who are both still in a fight for that second last sixteen place.