Bernardo Silva and Claudio Bravo return at the expense of Ederson and Raheem Sterling while Vincent Kompany returns to the bench
Kompany has missed the last six games after limping off in the 1-0 win over Newcastle just after Christmas.
Starting XI and bench:
Bravo, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, D Silva, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sane, Aguero
Subs: Ederson, Danilo, Yaya Toure, Otamendi, Bernardo, Mangala, Gundogan
90 mins from Wembley? Possible scenarios…
City travel to Ashton Gate with a 2-1 first leg lead.
The tie is finely poised, and the Robins need just a 1-0 to progress – after extra time – when their away goal would count double.
Only a 2-1 win after extra time could result in a third penalty shoot-out of this season’s Carabao Cup run for the Blues.
A 3-2 win for Bristol City after extra time would see the Blues progress to the final, as would a draw and, of course, a victory for City.
Tactics: Attack or protect the lead?
Has a Pep Guardiola side ever protected a lead or entered a game with that mindset?
City will go to Ashton Gate to win this game and the tactics will mirror that mentality.
Expect the Blues to attack and play as normal, and ditto Bristol City who will again press high, try and force errors and try and take the game to the Premier League leaders.
Bristol City line-up:
#BCFC XI to face #MCFC: Steele, Bryan, Flint, Wright, Smith, Brownhill, Magnusson, Walsh, Reid, Paterson, Pack.
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 23, 2018
