Aro Muric makes his City debut as Pep Guardiola gives some of the Blues’ talented youngsters a run out against the U’s.
Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz get a chance to shine and former Barcelona youth player Adrian Bernabe is on the bench.
Danilo makes a welcome return from injury and Oleks Zinchenko makes his first start of the campaign against the League One side.
Starting XI and bench
Muric, Danilo, Kompany (c), Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Silva, Diaz, Foden, Mahrez, Jesus
Substitutes: Ederson, Walker, Sterling, Gündogan, Laporte, Sané, Bernabe
READ: Oxford v City Need to Know
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Youthful Blues
With Phil Foden, Brahim Diaz and Aro Muric all starting, there is a mixture of youth and experience in tonight’s team.
Three named centre-backs is likely to mean a midfield berth for John Stones - with Foden, Diaz and David Silva ahead of him.
Riyad Mahrez is likely to have licence to roam, with Gabriel Jesus leading the line.
So, a 4-1-3-2 formation could be on the cards.
Debut for Muric
A month or so ago Aro Muric was headed out on a season-long loan with NAC Breda - now he will make his debut for City against Oxford United.
Muric and the other fringe players getting their chance this evening - will know a good run in the cup means more game-time and - who knows? - another trip to Wembley next year!
Oxford United team
Your #OUFC side to face @ManCity in tonight’s @Carabao_Cup third round tie is as follows: pic.twitter.com/wTQAJRxLN1
— Oxford United FC (@OUFCOfficial) September 25, 2018
Stats and milestones
City and Oxford have only met once in cup competitions - a 1974 clash in the FA Cup that City won 5-2 - there have been no previous meetings in League Cup.
The last time City played Oxford, the U’s triumphed 2-0 at Maine Road in 1998.
The Blues haven’t lost a third round League Cup tie since 2012 - a 4-2 defeat by Aston Villa in 2012.
City have won the League Cup three times in the last six years at two-year intervals - 2014, 2016 and 2018
