Man City predicted lineup vs Bayern Munich - Champions League
By Tom Gott
Manchester City will seek to send a statement across Europe when they host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
City are in sensational form, scoring goals for fun and racking up the victories, but they'll need to be at their best to see off a Bayern side who back themselves up against anybody and recently hired Thomas Tuchel, the man who derailed their Champions League dream just two years ago.
Here's how Pep Guardiola could set up.
Man City predicted lineup vs Bayern Munich (3-2-4-1)
GK: Ederson - The stopper faced Bayern twice during his time with Benfica, conceding three goals in the 2015/16 quarter-final.
CB: Manuel Akanji - He hasn't been at his best recently but Akanji still retains the faith of Guardiola.
CB: Ruben Dias - Another former Benfica man, Dias faced Bayern in 2018/19 and ended up conceding seven goals across two group games.
CB: Nathan Ake - If City are to win this, they'll need a monster of a performance from Ake, who has been one of the Premier League's top performers this season.
DM: Rodri - City's anchor man will have his hands full trying to keep up with Thomas Muller and Jamal Musiala.
DM: John Stones - The defensive-minded Stones may get the nod here in anticipation of a tough midfield battle.
RM: Bernardo Silva - Riyad Mahrez struggled against Southampton and so Guardiola may try shake things up with Silva.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan - Gundogan knows all about Bayern from his time in Germany. He's crucial to City's style of play and will have to step up again here.
CM: Kevin De Bruyne - Perhaps the finest creator in Europe, De Bruyne will back himself to find a way through a Bayern defence that hasn't always inspired confidence.
LM: Jack Grealish - Grealish is playing some of the best football of his career this season, having finally figured out how to play under Guardiola.
ST: Erling Haaland - Haaland could have joined Bayern instead of City last summer. Now, he'll get the chance to see whether he made the right call.