Man City predicted lineup vs Sevilla - UEFA Super Cup
- Man City face Sevilla in first-ever Super Cup appearance
- Cityzens started Premier League season with 3-0 win at Burnley
- Pep Guardiola has injuries in defence to contend with
It was business as usual for Man City in their Premier League opener as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Burnley off the back of an Erling Haaland brace.
While the Clarets huffed and puffed upon their return to the top flight with Vincent Kompany's swanky progressive principles on display, City's triumph was never in doubt after their supreme goalscorer got the ball rolling early doors.
Their attentions now shift to the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla on Wednesday night. City's maiden Champions League victory means they're competing in this competition for the very first time, although Pep Guardiola is a three-time winner as a result of his previous exploits in Spain and Germany.
Here's the starting XI Guardiola could pick for City's Super Cup debut.
Man City predicted lineup vs Sevilla (4-3-3)
GK: Ederson - Begun his quest for the Golden Glove with a clean sheet at Turf Moor. While Guardiola is expected to make changes on Wednesday, Stefan Ortega will remain on the bench.
RB: Kyle Walker - Walker was used sparingly by Guardiola at the back end of last season, but he's started City's last two games and could re-emerge as a crucial figure in the Cityzens' defence.
CB: Manuel Akanji - The Swiss international has rarely been used in his preferred position since joining the club, with Guardiola utilising him at both right- and left-back. However, this could be a rare occasion where we see Akanji line up centrally.
CB: Josko Gvardiol - Ruben Dias and John Stones are both injury doubts which means we could see recent arrival Gvardiol make his first start for the club. The defender made his Premier League bow off the bench at Turf Moor and was deployed at left-back.
LB: Nathan Ake - A stellar performer last season, Ake's pre-season was disrupted by injury but he returned to the fold against Burnley and should keep his place in the side given City's injuries in defence.
CM: Rodri - The reason why City are competing in Wednesday's game. Rodri scored the only goal in the Champions League final to seal their historic treble.
CM: Mateo Kovacic - While his Chelsea career somewhat faded into obscurity, Kovacic already looks like a superb coup for Guardiola. Remarkably press-resistant and formidable in the build-up phase, the Croat will mitigate Ilkay Gundogan's departure in the first two thirds of the pitch.
CM: Julian Alvarez - Kevin De Bruyne's absence should see either Phil Foden or Alvarez get the nod on Wednesday, but it's the latter who Guardiola likes to deploy when KDB misses out. The Argentine won't replicate the Belgian's function and instead advance from his position to join Haaland in what can often look like a 4-2-4 shape.
RW: Bernardo Silva - Guardiola's half-time theatrics with Haaland was solely because the Nordic machine berated Bernardo just before the break. Pep's message was clear: don't diss the diminutive genius, whose significance to the Cityzens will only become greater in 2023/24.
ST: Erling Haaland - The Premier League record-breaker had scored just once in nine competitive games before Friday's clash with Burnley, but it took just four minutes for Haaland to open his account for the new season. He added a wonderful second before half-time and was withdrawn in the second half with Guardiola perhaps having one eye on this fixture.
LW: Jack Grealish - Unused in Friday night's win, Grealish will surely come back into the team against Sevilla.
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