To Serg or not to Serg.

That is the question…

In our last outing, we saw a return to action of one Sergio Aguero who looked sharp and, who, scored a crackin’ goal! At the very least, that gives Pep Guardiola an option he…perhaps didn’t think he’d have going into this fixture.

v Paris St. Germain

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).

Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-2-4-0 / 4-3-3:

_____________________________________________

 

 

Foden_________________________________Mahrez

___________De Bruyne________Silva_____________

 

___________________Gundogan_________________

 

_____________________Rodri____________________

Zinchenko_______________________________Walker

____________Stones___________Dias_____________

 

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Steffen, Trafford, Cancelo, Mendy, Ake, Laporte, Fernandinho, Doyle, Sterling, Torres, Jesus, Aguero.

So, the answer, I think, is no…no Sergio starting tonight (8:00pm KO BST).

Ederson continues in net.

The back-4 I believe he’ll go with tonight includes 3 players who started in the first leg; in John, Ruben & Kyle. However, I’m going for Oleksandr to come in for Joao Cancelo on the left.

Rodders gets the deepest midfield job but I think he’ll get a lot of assistance from Ilkay; who might be asked to play a ‘dual role’.

Thinking more about attack is likely to be Phil, Kevin, Bernardo & Riyad.

Two keepers on the bench in the form of Zack & James with Joao, Benjamin, Nathan & Aymeric making up the reserve defenders. Fernandinho, Tommy, Raheem, Ferran, Gabriel & Sergio make up the impressive midfield / wing / attacking options from the side. If he hasn’t suffered ill effects from playing 93 minutes after being so long without minutes on the pitch then what a player, in Sergio, to have on the side in order to throw on and give the opposition something different & dangerous to be concerned about.

Notable absences:

-       Eric Garcia – Is apparently suffering with a sickness / fever…but there are also very recent reports circling that the 20-year-old is close to agreeing terms with Barcelona so take your pick with that one...

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Yes – that’s one hell of a midfield to have to contend with and get past before even considering the back 4 / 5. It has attacking potency too.

Result? With that predicted line-up and the confidence flowing as high as it is, I have to think that we have it in us to get through to the final now.

However, we will, no doubt, have to be absolutely ‘at it’ 100%; as I’m sure we’ll have to face a storm at some stage for however long. And I’m sorry, I’m just not havin’ it that Mbappe was filmed “limping” off the bus after also missing their weekend domestic fixture – he’s being rested / protected & primed to be at the leading edge of their storm, I’m quite sure of it.

I have a strong feeling that they’ll score but if they do (hopefully not more than once), I think we’ve shown a quality of not panicking in those situations and a steely resolve to get back into games where we’ve gone behind.

It’s a tough, tough game this evening but one where I think, once again, we’ll come out of it on top with a narrow victory.

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Not great but at least it’s not as bad as it was yesterday! Still…5C, around about 50% chance of showers and a stiff, north-westerly breeze is pretty ‘orrible. Pitch could be a bit ‘greasy’ after torrential rain nearly all day Monday and with showers most of Tuesday, so I think we’ll see the ball zipping around and perhaps the odd slip / mistimed tackle.