90min

Man City predicted lineup vs Club Brugge - Champions League

By Jamie Spencer

Man City host Club Brugge in the Champions League this week
Man City host Club Brugge in the Champions League this week / Isosport/MB Media/GettyImages
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Manchester City will host Club Brugge in the Champions League this week looking to quickly put Saturday's Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace behind them.

Pep Guardiola isn't facing any major injury problems - Ferran Torres is the only City player who misses out in that respect - but could opt to rotate his team in light of the defeat to Palace, the upcoming Manchester derby, and the fact that City thrashed Brugge 5-1 in Belgium last month.

Here's a look at the starting XI the boss could pick...

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

John Stones has lacked minutes this season
John Stones has lacked minutes this season / Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages

Ederson (GK) - Understudy Zack Steffen may get a chance later in the group stage if City qualify early but the Brazilian keeps his place for now.

Joao Cancelo (RB) - Still proving to be Guardiola's undroppable force, having missed only 12 minutes in the Premier League and Champions League.

John Stones (CB) - Made only his second Premier League appearance of the season off the bench at the weekend and could get minutes here.

Nathan Ake (CB) - Aymeric Laporte is eligible here but may be unlikely to play as some kind of punishment for his red card on Saturday.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB) - Still waiting to build up minutes and match fitness since an injury in September and this is a chance.

2. Midfielders

Ilkay Gundogan needs a chance to re-establish himself
Ilkay Gundogan needs a chance to re-establish himself / Sylvain Lefevre/GettyImages

Fernandinho (DM) - Could return to the side for only his fifth start of the season in all competitions to give Rodri a break.

Kevin De Bruyne (CM) - Got an assist in Brugge last time out in Europe and only played just under an hour at the weekend so should be fresh.

Ilkay Gundogan (CM) - Yet to regain his regular starting place since a hamstring injury in September, but this is a good chance for a start.

3. Forwards

Home-grown Cole Palmer could have a chance to start
Home-grown Cole Palmer could have a chance to start / Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages

Riyad Mahrez (RW) - Netted twice against Brugge in Belgium but has only been a substitute in each of the last two Premier League games.

Cole Palmer (ST) - It would be a big call from Guardiola, but the teenager scored in the reverse fixture and could benefit from squad rotation.

Raheem Sterling (LW) - Still not having the best season after struggling to establish himself as a starter. Got an assist in Belgium.

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