Shakhtar Donetsk v Manchester City : Match Preview

Here we go again. Manchester City face their third trip to the Ukraine to face Shakhtar in three seasons!

It is almost as though UEFA are wanting Manchester City fans to boo them. Making us face the same teams every year now seems to be the latest way to try and wear us all down.

You see many of the Manchester City who follow the team across Europe do it as part of pre arranged breaks, travelling each year to new and exciting locations. Not this game they are not – and that is probably why even the City Official Travel Company has not organised a trip.

In fact the Blues who have made the huge journey will have done so under their own steam, so hats off to those 150 or so hardy souls who have done that! Let us hope they have a fantastic time and get to see a real display.

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The problem though is often the opening Champions League match can be an erratic affair. Nervy games of kick and rush abound in these matches, without the added weight of coming into the game on the back of a poor defeat.

Shakhtar though are in a good run of form. They have won all 7 of their League games so far this season and sit on a goal difference of 17. Their Brazilian heavy squad have stormed the Ukrainian League so far and will present a tricky opposition – probably the hardest game which City have faced so far this season.

Junior Moraes the Brazilian striker has hit 7 goals in 7 games so far and just behind him in the goal scoring stakes is attacking midfielder Marlos Bonfirm with 5. These players are capable of catching City on the break and finding the net.

Pep Guardiola will need to ensure his team is solid – perhaps this is the game where both Rodri and Fernandinho should be employed together in midfield, to offer protection to a backline who have been rattled.

The only notable absentee from the expected travelling squad is Phil Foden who seems to have a niggle and has not been risked. Other than that, Guardiola has plenty to choose from.

In the past our European exploits have been undone as Guardiola has over thought our approach tactically. Hopefully caution will be exercised in this away game and we come away with a solid and comfortable victory.

I have a feeling this game will be a chance for Stones and Otamendi to repair their confidence, flanked by Zinchenko and Cancelo, who will I think make his full debut. i would save Walker for the Carabao Cup where his wily power may be more suited.

I hope to see Rodri and Fernandinho in midfield, assisted in every meaning of that word by Kevin De Bruyne. In such a formation much will depend upon the legs of our front players – so I would play Bernardo, Sterling and Aguero, knowing all three will have a rest next week.

Next. Manchester City : The Norwich Inquest. dark

Predicted Staring XI

Ederson

Cancelo, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko

Rodri, Fernandinho, De Bruyne

Bernardo, Aguero, Sterling

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