Lyon preview

All-but-one fit & available players for us – let’s get straight to it…

v Lyon

The rather green-looking, Estádio José Alvalade

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-6-0:

______________________________________________

 

 

_____________________Jesus____________________

 

___Sterling___________________________Mahrez___

____________De Bruyne_____D. Silva_____________

 

_____________________Rodri____________________

Cancelo_________________________________Walker

_____________Laporte______Fernandinho_________

 

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Bravo, Zinchenko, Mendy, Garcia, Otamendi, Stones, Harwood-Bellis, Gundogan, Doyle, Foden, B. Silva, Palmer.

What I’m basically going to do, is name the same, predicted line-up as I did before the Real Madrid game, where I got 2 wrong.

Ederson, of course, in net.

I think…THINK, Joao will get another crack at the left-wing back slot and that we might save the pace of Mendy for later on; when legs may be getting a little tired. I might be wrong of course. If I am right though, then the largely right-sided, Portuguese international will make up a ‘back 4’ alongside Aymeric, Fernandinho & in-form Kyle.

Rodders in front of those / occasionally dipping back to ‘swell the defence’ when needed and ahead of him, a fluid 5-man attack containing Kevin, David, who I think will step into this one, Raheem, Riyad to be given a starting go and Gabriel.

I must have missed the rule change last time out that allows 12 – THAT’S TWELVE! – subs in the Champions League now, so this long list is likely to consist of fit again Claudio as reserve keeper. Then we have Oleksandr, Benjamin, Eric, Nicolas, John & Taylor that make up a large contingent of back-up defenders; Ilkay, Tommy, Phil, Bernardo & Cole, similarly so, make up a big group of midfielders & wingers waiting to step in if needed.

Notable absences:

-       Sergio Aguero – Still in Barcelona; still working on his recovery following knee surgery.

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

The ‘round pegs in round holes’ phrase has me a little twitchy about not starting Benjamin, should I be right of course, in his natural position on the left of defence / left flank…and that’s despite me-personally not being very convinced about his defensive capabilities. But yeah, that’ll do for me.

Result? Well, I don’t know a hell of a lot about our French opponents but they do-clearly have quality players.

With the French league being abandoned with 10 games to go due to Covid-19; after 28 games played, they did finish a fairly-lowly 7^th and 10 points off a Champions League place; losing 10 and only winning 11 of their 28 league games played. Should we read too much into that? I’m not so sure we should because, as we’ve seen, different players and different teams have come back after the pandemic break in different form.

They did dispatch Italian League champions, Juventus, in the last round to set up this fixture and the break has, apparently, allowed 2 of their better players to recover from long-term injuries and be available for tonight. They also have a player who has done damage to us in the past…and who sounds like an ice-cream.

Tough game? Of course it will be. Close too, I suspect, but I'm going for a City win and probably in 'the 90'.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: A very warm day – but only a couple of degrees warmer than parts of Greater Manchester – cools to a welcoming [for the players I’m sure] 70F as the game kicks off. Stays dry and cools slightly further as the game progresses and the sun dips away. A slight North-Westerly breeze might help the players too, if it can get inside the stadium.

Oh, and if we DO get through…

Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich! YIKES!