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Manchester City travel to Sporting CP on matchday four of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night hoping to record their third win in the competition this season.
Pep Guardiola’s side have recorded one draw and two wins from their opening three matches in the revamped version of the Champions League, putting them in prime position for automatic qualification for the last-16 of the tournament.
Manchester City come into the meeting with Sporting CP off the back of two difficult results, having exited the Carabao Cup at the fourth round stage via a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham, and a follow-up 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend in the Premier League.
As for the reigning Portuguese champions in Sporting CP, Ruben Amorim’s squad have not lost in their last 15 matches, and have also won all of their last six matches, whilst remaining unbeaten in seven home games.
City will be without the same five players that were absent from the weekend, with all of Ruben Dias (muscular), John Stones (foot), Rodri (anterior cruciate ligament), Oscar Bobb (leg fracture), and Jack Grealish (muscular) absent from the travelling party.
Ahead of the confirmed team news from Estádio José Alvalade on Tuesday night, some initial information has began to filter throughout social media from journalists and sources regarding Manchester City’s starting line-up.
As confirmed by Pep Guardiola during his pre-match media conference at Estádio José Alvalade on Monday evening, Stefan Ortega will retain his place in goal in Champions League action against Sporting having started the last two contests in the tournament for City.
Guardiola has also confirmed that Erling Haaland is “fine” after appearing to sustain a minor injury issue during City training on Monday, but Pep Guardiola said on the matter, “We have to occupy the news 24 hours, we have to make all the news as possible. So that’s the reason why.”
The Catalan’s complete fitness update stated, “Most of them [are fully-fit]. Manu [Akanji] and Nathan [Ake] are still with problems. Kevin [De Bruyne] is getting better and adding sessions with less pain so we feel that he feels more and more comfortable. That is excellent news for him and all of us.
“Kyle [Walker] as well, problems with his knee since he was with the national team. [Jeremy] Doku always has a little bit of problems in his muscular issues. Savinho is getting better with his ankle. The rest are fine!”
Ruben Amorim and Pep Guardiola are expected to confirmed their respective Sporting CP and Manchester City starting line-ups around 18:45 (UK) on Tuesday night.
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