Pep Guardiola has named a strong starting XI for the opening game of our US tour at Houston’s NRG Stadium, with 10 senior players included against the Mexican outfit.
Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Joao Cancelo, Rodrigo, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish join Alvarez and Ortega Moreno in the side, though Ruben Dias is not involved due to illness.
That means 18-year-old Luke Mbete, who made three senior appearances last season, is afforded a start in the back four and there is plenty of youth on a bench which also includes Ederson and Scott Carson.
Nine of the substitutes come from the Club’s Academy, with Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis two players who could make their maiden first team appearance if introduced.
TEAMS
CITY: Ortega Moreno, Walker, Ake, Mbete, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish.
SUBS: Ederson, Carson, Phillips, Haaland, Kayky, Delap, Bobb, Palmer, Lewis, McAtee, Burns, Knight, Wilson-Esbrand.
CLUB AMERICA: Ochoa (C), Sanchez, Lara, Araujo, Fuentez, Sanchez, Dos Santos, Zendejas, Valdes, Fidalgo, Martin.
SUBS: Jimenez, Tapia, Valdez, Martinez, Caceres, Campos, Layun, Vinas, Martinez, Moreno, Aquino, Damm, Reyes, Rodriguez.
Formation
Two months on from our dramatic final-day title triumph against Aston Villa, City return to action with an exciting line-up.
It looks as if it will be the same 4-3-3 formation that Guardiola opted for against Villa, with the inclusion of Ortega Moreno, Alvarez and young Mbete providing the team with a fresh look as our preparations for 2022/23 begin in earnest.
Mbete will start at centre-half alongside Ake, with Walker and Cancelo in their usual full-back roles.
The back four will be protected by Rodrigo, who sits deepest in midfield behind Bernardo and De Bruyne.
Alvarez leads the line up front, with Mahrez operating off the right-wing and Grealish on the opposite flank.
Watch the game live on CITY+
This match will be broadcast exclusively on CITY+, with the match available to watch live for CITY+ subscribers everywhere, except the US and Mexico.
For just £2.99 a month, CITY+ allows members to live stream selected Women’s, EDS and Academy clashes throughout the season and watch full-match replays of all Men’s and Women’s games.
It also grants access to exclusive CityTV productions, including the Fernandinho: The Last Game and Kevin De Bruyne: Made in Belgium documentaries.
For further details about how to subscribe visit HERE.
