Some changes with Saturday in mind?

There’s absolutely no doubt that Pep will want all-3 points tomorrow night and, therefore, putting a 5-point gap between us and our visitors as well as giving us a chance, at least and depending on the other result, of going top of the group.

However, there’s no getting away from the fact that we have to improve our league results, which has seen us not win 4 of our 10 games so far; dropping 10 points from a possible 30.

And to add to the...‘looking forward to the weekend match theme' even before a ball has been kicked in our up & coming fixture; that league game is an early KO (12:30pm GMT) in a certain Trafford v Manchester derby.

v Club Bruges

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game which for me, blog-wise, was way back when we last met tomorrow night’s visitors: 10/11).

Pep has said in his pre-match press conference that this game is more important than this-coming Saturday's match but I still believe that there will be a couple of 'tweaks' – I might be wrong, of course.

Additionally, our Spanish boss might also choose, once again, not to go with a full-12 compliment / allocation of ‘bench men’; with the EDS in action at 1:00pm (GMT) on the same day against their Club Bruges, young counterparts.

Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-6-0 / 4-3-3:

______________________________________________

 

Grealish__________________________________Jesus

___________________De Bruyne __________________

___________Foden______________Silva____________

 

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Zinchenko________________________________Walker

 

____________Stones____________Dias_____________

 

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Steffen, Carson, Cancelo, Ake, Laporte, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Palmer, Mahrez, Sterling.

Ed in net.

I’m going with my feeling that Oleksandr might ‘get the nod’ to start this one on the left of our defence; John to ‘come in’ ahead of Aymeric’s domestic suspension on Saturday to get some 'game time' with Ruben & Kyle making up the back-4.

Rodders to ‘sit in’; Jack, Phil, Kevin, Bernardo & Gabriel are the fluid, interchangeable attacking 5 ahead of him.

Both Zack & Scott are the reserve stoppers; Joao, Nathan & Aymeric the defensive replacement options from the side. Fernandinho, Ilkay, Cole, Riyad & Raheem are the midfield / wing / attacking guys in my predicted 10 [from 12] reserves.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.

-       Ferran Torres – Out with a foot injury until around Christmas time.

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

Yep. If I'm correct, putting Zinchenko in on the left from the start gives scope to rest Cancelo and then, if play dictates, it also allows Joao to come on for Kyle to give the England right-wing back some rest also. Similarly - and again if things are going well - I expect some early second half changes further up field ahead of Saturday's fixture; with Fernandinho, Ilkay and Cole possibly seeing some action.

Result? They need to ‘come at us’ and we have to brace ourselves for that, of course. I can see ‘em possibly breaching our defence and we might be a little shacky for a time early on after two back-to-back defeats.

However, I can see us ‘getting there in the end’. It’s a City win from me.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Cold. Definitely warm coats for the fans and perhaps a pie / warm drink would be the order of the night. 6C dipping to 5C is the temperature and with a slight, northerly breeze that could feel more like 3 or 4. Dry though, at least.