Pep Guardiola has opted for a mixture of youth and experience for City’s friendly with Girona.

Kevin De Buryne and Ilkay Gundogan both start in what will represent their first match since they exited the 2022 World Cup with Belgium and Germany respectively.

Our meeting with the Spanish side will also be Erling Haaland’s and Riyad Mahrez’s first run out since City’s 2-1 defeat to Brentford on 12 November.

Cole Palmer and Rico Lewis are joined by youngsters Jadel Katongo, Shea Charles, Morgan Rogers who have also been included in our XI at the Academy Stadium.

LINE UPS:

 

CITY XI: Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Katongo, Charles, Gomez, Gundogan (c), De Bruyne, Palmer, Mahrez, Rogers, Haaland

Subs: Van Sas, Smith, Bobb, McDonald, Dickson, Alleyne, Galvez, O’Reilly, Borges, Robertson, Samuel

FORMATION: 4-3-3

Stefan Ortega Moreno starts between the sticks and is protected by a back four of Rico Lewis, Jadel Katongo, Shea Charles and Morgan Rogers.

City’s midfield is anchored by Ilkay Gundogan and is joined by Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Gomez.

And the front free is comprised of Cole Palmer and Riyad Mahrez either side of Erling Haaland.

WORLD CUP RETURN

Saturday’s clash with Michel’s side represents City’s first match since the World Cup break, with Gundogan and De Bruyne back among the squad since returning from Qatar.

Unfortunately the midfield pair exited the tournament at the group stage as Germany and Belgium missed out on the knockout stages, respectively.

GIRONA

Our Spanish opposition come into the meeting at the Academy Stadium sitting 13th in La Liga with 16 points.

In what is their third season at Spain’s top table, they have won four, drawn four and lost six.

 

STATS AND FACTS

  • Manchester City and Girona have never played a competitive fixture.
  • We last played in August 2017, when Girona won 1-0 through a 14th minute Portu goal. Only four players still at City featured in that match – John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan.
  • Former City player Aleix Garcia is in Girona’s squad.
  • This will be City’s first match in 35 days. It is Girona’s first match in 34 days.
  • After 14 games in La Liga this season, Girona sit 13th in the La Liga table after a run of four wins, four draws and six losses, handing them 16 points.