Also returning are Stefan Ortega Moreno, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo as Pep Guardiola names a strong starting XI.
Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Ederson, Rodrigo and Ilkay Gundogan all drop to the bench.
Line-ups
City:
Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Phillips, De Bruyne (c), Bernardo, Mahrez, Foden, Alvarez
Subs: Ederson, Haaland, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Walker, Grealish, Gomez, Perrone, Palmer
Bristol City:
O’Leary, Tanner, Vyner, Kalas, Pring, James (c), Williams, Scott, Sykes, Wells, Bell
Formation and tactics
A statement of intent, City name a formidable starting XI for tonight’s game at Ashton Gate.
The only disappointment for the home fans is Erling Haaland‘s absence from the the team that kicks off, with no doubt many local youngsters keen to see the Norwegian superstar in the flesh.
Kalvin Phillips will be desperate to impress and has big boots to fill playing in Rodrigo‘s anchor role - boots of course he is more than capable of filling.
Rico Lewis gets another outing and Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo will support 10-goal Argentine striker Julian Alvarez in attack.
Nathan Ake is likely to play at left-back again this evening.
City looking to edge closer to Wembley
Given the calibre of teams already out of the FA Cup, City know the road to Wembley is wide open.
Chelsea and Arsenal have both been dumped out of the cup by Pep Guardiola’s side, with Liverpool and Newcastle United also out of the competition.
Standing in the Blues’ way is an in-form Bristol City who will look to give their fans at Aston Gate a good showing.
The Robins are a vibrant young side who will want to ruffle the defending Premier League champions’ feathers, so it could be an open and entertaining tie.
The hosts are unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions and will be keen for this not be an unlucky 13.
Stats and facts
- Incredibly, this is the first ever meeting between Bristol City and Manchester City in the FA Cup. Their most recent encounters were in the 2017-18 League Cup semi-final, with the Blues winning both legs (2-1 home, 3-2 away).
- Manchester City have won the last 12 FA Cup matches against sides from a lower division by an aggregate score of 42-8. Their last such defeat was away at Wigan in February 2018, losing 1-0.
- Bristol City have been eliminated from 13 of their 14 FA Cup fifth round ties, with their one exception coming in 1973-74 when they knocked out Leeds United in a replay; Leeds would go on to win the top-flight that season.
- The Blues have won our last 10 away games in the FA Cup, a run that stretches back to February 2019. It is the longest away winning run by a team in the history of the FA Cup.
- Pep Guardiola has managed 35 domestic cup ties as a manager of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City against sides from outside the top-flight and progressed from 34 of them, failing only against Wigan in the FA Cup fifth round in 2017-18. Since 2016-17, when he joined City, only Chelsea (27) have won more matches in the FA Cup than the Citizens (26).
