Otherwise, pep Guardiola keeps faith with the side that looked solid and assured at Selhurst Park.
Fernandinho returns on the subs bench.
READ: Where can I watch the City v Spurs Champions League match?
WATCH: Riyad Mahrez interview
Starting line-ups:
City: Ederson, Walker, Mendy, Laporte, Kompany, Gundogan De Bruyne, Bernardo, D Silva, Agüero, Sterling,
Subs: Muric, Stones, Sané, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Otamendi, Gabriel Jesus
Tottenham XI:
To follow…
Tactics: 4-3-3
It’s as you were from the weekend with Ilkay Gundogan again taking the anchor role.
The only change is Bernardo who looks set for a left-wing berth this evening
Patience the key?
While an early goal is highly desirable for City this evening, it isn’t critical.
Last season, the Blues came into the Champions League quarter-final second leg with Liverpool 3-0 down and getting off to a flyer was imperative – and Gabriel Jesus’ second-minute strike gave City the perfect platform on the night.
The minimum requirement is one goal – that would be enough to take the game to extra time and penalties if Spurs failed to score.
However, should Spurs score even one goal, the Blues will need to score three with a winning margin of two goals then required.
The bottom line is that conceding will make tonight’s task much harder.
Total Football awaits winners…
Whoever progresses from tonight’s tie, Ajax await the winners.
The Dutch side beat Juventus 2-1 in Turin to win 3-2 on aggregate and are this season’s surprise package.
Having already thrashed Real Madrid in the Bernabeu, they represent formidable opposition for either English side and for Pep Guardiola, Ajax were, of course, the team his hero Johan Cruyff graced for nine years before moving to Barcelona.
Stats and milestones:
City are looking for a first win against an English side in European competition – the Blues have lost all five games against Chelsea (twice), Liverpool (twice) and Spurs scoring one goal and conceding eight.
Of the 32 Champions League ties where the away team has lost 1-0 in the first leg, 10 teams have progressed to the next round.
City have lost just once in the last eight games against Spurs at the Etihad, winning six and drawing once.
The Blues have won 23 of 25 home games this campaign, with only Lyon and Crystal Palace leaving the Etihad with a victory.
City are six goals short of a century at the Etihad in all competitions this season.
Spurs are the Premier League’s top scorers away from home this season, bagging 33 on the road and winning 11 and losing six of their 17 games.
