Manchester City are in the rare position of having to put a stop to a lengthy losing streak when they return to action on Wednesday.
Man City will play their second match of the group stage against RB Leipzig when they return to Champions League competition. The team led by Pep Guardiola has lost its last two games, falling to Wolves on Saturday and losing to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup.
The return of Rodri, who has missed the last two domestic games while serving a three-match suspension but is still eligible to play in Europe, will help the Blues, though. The midfielder will play, according to Guardiola, before being permitted to take a vacation.
Additionally, both John Stones and Bernardo Silva have made the trip to Germany and are in contention to make their long-awaited return from injury. The manager said ahead of the game: “They feel better. Benardo better than John.
“Both travel, we decide tomorrow. Really happy they’re back. John not played one minute this season, Bernardo had injury and the birth of his beautiful baby daughter but they’re back and it’s good news for us.”
LINE-UP 1
Guardiola has said Rodri is starting so there is little point in not including him but otherwise, there should be enough rest for the manager to pick 10 who will play at Arsenal. The more rhythm the team has, the easier it will be to accommodate one extra body into the team for North London.
Nathan Ake wasn’t great on Saturday but is probably still more likely than Josko Gvardiol to keep Bukayo Saka locked down on Sunday so it makes sense for him to stay in the side. John Stones and Bernardo Silva are welcome returns to training, although it makes more sense to give them minutes off the bench.
Guardiola will want control from this game and that means Jack Grealish as well as Mateo Kovacic playing further forward than he was at Wolves. Grealish is searching for his form again after injuries and a full 90 should do him good here.
Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez can continue to work on their partnership with Erling Haaland.
LINE-UP 2
City have never won at the Red Bull Arena, so Guardiola knows how difficult this game will be. And while he would love to get back to winning ways, I can’t see him giving up much ahead of Arsenal – and a doubleheader with Young Boys to come in this group. Rodri will return, and that should see an improved performance from Mateo Kovacic.
Kyle Walker can keep haring up and down the right, letting Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez slip inside. Jeremy Doku on the left over Jack Grealish as the sole “risky” choice. Doku would bring some speed if necessary, but Grealish offers more control from a team that would be content with a point from their most difficult matchup of the group.
Nathan Ake was out of sorts at the back over the weekend, therefore Josko Gvardiol should replace him and play left-back against his former team. Bernardo and John Stones, who may make their injury comebacks, can provide European experience if City needs it.
LINE-UP 3
We already know Rodri is going to start in Germany and that’s a clear indicator Pep Guardiola is going to name a strong side, even if the midfielder is suspended for the weekend. Sunday’s trip to Arsenal is massive but so is a win against City’s closest competitors in their group.
Josko Gvardiol should come back into the side on his old stomping ground in place of Nathan Ake after his struggles at Molineux but otherwise, it could be an unchanged back-line. Matheus Nunes was harshly hooked at half-time against Wolves but still had a better performance than Mateo Kovacic and should get the nod to partner Rodri.
John Stones and Bernardo Silva are both back but it would be risky to start them here. As a result, Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez can continue in attack behind Erling Haaland but Jack Grealish should come in for Jeremy Doku, in a game where keeping the ball will be important against a great counter-attacking unit.
