Manchester City have announced they will face Girona in a friendly on Saturday 17 December to ramp up preparations for their Premier League return against Leeds United. The Whites host the Premier League Champions on December 28 in what will be their first game back following the six-week World Cup break.
City have a number of stars still out in Qatar as the tournament reaches the final stages, with quarter-finals set to get underway tomorrow. Nathan Ake, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Kalvin Phillips, Julian Alvarez, Ederson, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva are the City players still hoping to lift the World Cup later this month.
But for players who were either not at the World Cup, or have been knocked out, their focus will soon be switching towards a return to club action. Riyad Mahrez and Erling Haaland were City's two big names who did not qualify, while Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan were both handed surprise group stage exits with Belgium and Germany respectively.
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The aforementioned friendly clash with Girona is set to take place at City's Academy Stadium, and will contain a blend of youth and senior experience. City will going up against former Leeds favourite Samuel Saiz after he joined the club in 2019.
Of course, City actually return to competitive action before Leeds as they host Liverpool in a Carabao Cup last-16 tie on December 22. Due to the chaotic nature of this season's schedule, that game is pencilled in to be played just three days after the World Cup final.
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