Following a two-week international break, the number of injured players at Manchester City has reached 13. Therefore, all fans are curious about which lineup Pep Guardiola will rely on in the Manchester derby.
The influential website cityxtra.co.uk published an analytical article on the City's head coach's decisions. According to the source, the match against United is crucial for the outcome of the season. After the derby, City will face Napoli in the Champions League and then face Arsenal in London. The busy schedule ends with a cup match against Huddersfield.
Injuries and coach worries
Guardiola is still concerned about the situation of some leading performers. John Stones and Omar Marmush have not yet been removed from the hospital list. This forces the coach to make more complex decisions.
Goal selection
The arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma intensified the competition. However, due to the stability, it is expected that James Trafford will again be entrusted as the main goalkeeper.
Line of defense
The right-wing defense still remains a weak point. This time, Mateusz Nunes is expected to start. Abdukodir Khusanov and Ruben Diash will play in the center. The Uzbek legionnaire has fully recovered from his injury sustained against Brighton.
Yoshko Guardiol can cover the left wing. He is expected to recover and replace the injured Ryan Ait-Nuri.
Midfield
Rodri's playing here is guaranteed. Above him, the pair of Tijani Reynders and Bernardo Silva needs to take action and gain control of the center.
Line of attack
On the right wing, Oscar Bobb can be trusted. Erling Haaland's place in the center is undeniable, he showed his high form by scoring five goals against Moldova. On the left flank, many are waiting for Jeremy Dock. He demonstrated good athletic performance in matches for Belgium.
Estimated starting lineup
Goalkeeper: James Trafford;
Defenders: Mateusz Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov, Ruben Dias, Yoshko Guardiol;
Midfielders: Rodri, Tijani Reynders, Bernardo Silva;
Forwards: Oscar Bobb, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku.
Substitutes: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rico Lewis, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Nico Gonzalez, Nico O'Reilly, Mateo Kovacic, Savio, Phil Foden.
Under these circumstances, the lineup in the derby is of great interest to both fans and experts. This match will be a test not only for rivalry with Manchester United but also for City's goals throughout the season.
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