Today’s starting XI:
Caballero, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne, Aguero
Subs: Hart, Fernando, Maffeo, Nolito, Delph, Iheanacho, Clichy
How will the Blues line up?
Pep Guardiola makes just one change from the midweek victory over Steaua Bucharest with Jesus Navas replacing Nolito. On paper, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi will partner at the centre of defence, flanked by Pablo Zabaleta and Aleks Kolarov, but never assume anything with a Guardiola team!
Fernandinho and David Silva should be the deep lying midfielders, but the system is too flexible to pigeonhole any one player and Silva could double up as the second ‘No.10’ role alongside Kevin De Bruyne, supplying ammunition for Sergio Aguero.
Then, Jesus Navas and Raheem Sterling will most likely interchange from either wing during the game.
Pep’s first cold and breezy afternoon in Stoke...
Or so the cliche goes!
As it happens, it is cold and windy at the Britannia Stadium as Mark Hughes’ side prepare for their first home game of the campaign. How will the Potters approach the game? Well you can bet the home fans and the players will be looking to inflict City’s first defeat of the season, though the fitness of Xherdan Shaqiri may be key to the Potters’ plans - the Swiss star faces a late fitness test.
Familiar faces?
Far from being an alien experience for Guardiola, he knows several of the Stoke team well from his previous managerial jobs. It was Pep who gave Stoke defender Marc Muniesa his debut at Barcelona and talented forward Bojan was in the squad for both of Guardiola’s Champions League wins at the Nou Camp. Ibrahim Afellay - injured for this game - was signed by Pep in 2011 and Shaqiri was also at Bayern. Won’t won’t be that familiar is that Britannia breeze!
Stoke line-up:
Given, Bardsley, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters, Imbula, Whelan, Bojan, Allen, Arnautovic, Diouf
