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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Stephen Killen

Five changes as Man City fans name starting line-up they want to see vs Sporting

Manchester City tonight return to Champions League action as they face Sporting in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 stage.

The Blues kick-off the knockout stages in Portugal as they look to go one better than last season's defeat in the final, Pep Guardiola aiming to finally bring the elusive piece of silverware to the blue half of Manchester.

They passed their first test with flying colours as they progressed through the group that consisted of Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig and Club Brugge.

With Jack Grealish injured (shin) as well as Gabriel Jesus (muscle) and Cole Palmer (foot) sidelined, the team almost picks itself.

City fans were delighted to see Liam Delap and promising attacker Kayky in the squad that flew to Portugal, but their involvement - if any - should be from the bench, according to the fans.

Blues supporters have had their say on what line-up should be and there are five changes from the side that stormed to victory over Norwich.

Have your say with our team selector below...

Goalkeeper - Ederson

Largely unchallenged at Carrow Road and with the importance of getting off to a good start in the first leg, it's likely Ederson will start.

Defence - Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchencko

The first of the changes from the win over Dean Smith's side come in the backline with Nathan Ake the chosen change for Aymeric Laporte.

Walker played in the win in Norfolk but due to his suspension, Cancelo is an enforced change.

Midfield - Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Kevin de Bruyne

The fans hope that Silva is the only player from the weekend's midfield trio to maintain their starting place.

Tell us how far you think City will go in this season’s Champions League below or here

After a well-deserved break, they have opted for Fernandinho and Gundogan to make way for Rodri and De Bruyne.

Attack - Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling

The front three are unchanged from the 4-0 win as hat-trick hero Raheem Sterling looks to continue his goalscoring form.

Phil Foden has been chosen to deploy as the central attacker/false-nine with Riyad Mahrez on the right after his 84-minute outing in the evening kick-off in Norfolk.

Manchester City fan XI to play Sporting: Ederson; Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchencko; Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Kevin de Bruyne; Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling.

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