Rodrigo returns after suspension, Bernardo Silva is back after injury, Josko Gvardiol comes in to face his former side while Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis are in the Starting XI.
They replace Jeremy Doku, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, Nathan Ake and Julian Alvarez.
We take on Leipzig this evening at the Red Bull Arena, with a 20:00 (UK) kick-off.
This evening’s game is our second in the 2023/24 edition of the competition, with the sky blues having won the first 3-1 in an entertaining home clash with Red Star Belgrade.
TEAMS
LEIPZIG XI: Blaswich, Klostermann, Simakan, Castello, Raum, Simons, Seiwald, Schlager, Forsberg, Openda, Poulsen
Subs: Gulacsi, Lenz, Haidara, Werner, Baumgartner, Carvalho, Sesko, Kampl
CITY XI: Ederson, Walker (C), Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis, Rodri, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Haaland
Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Phillips, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Doku, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb
TACTICS
It looks like 4-3-3 this evening.
Ederson is in the City goal and will be protected by a defence of Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji and Josko Gvardiol.
Rodrigo returns to his usual role after missing out on the Newcastle and Wolves games and he will be joined in midfield by Rico Lewis and Bernardo Silva.
Up top, Phil Foden looks set to be on the right with Jack Grealish on the left and Erling Haaland in the middle.
RODRIGO RETURNS
Pep Guardiola announced in his pre-match press conference that Rodrigo would return to the side tonight against RB Leipzig.
And it was good to see the news confirmed when the team sheets were handed in.
Rodrigo missed the Newcastle and Wolves games after his dismissal against Nottingham Forest.
Rodrigo is a powerful influence when he’s in the Starting XI thanks to his energy, his power, his courage and his intelligence.
Ruben Dias, speaking in the pre-match media briefing, also pointed to Rodrigo’s authority, stressing: “We all know the influence and the player he is and what he can give to us as a team.
“I guess there’s not much to debate, his presence is very important to all of us.”
As if that wasn’t enough good news for the evening, we also welcome back John Stones and Bernardo Silva.
Bernardo had to come off injured two weeks ago just before half-time in the 3-1 UCL win over Red Star Belgrade.
He’s since missed Premier League games against Nottingham Forest and Wolves and the Carabao Cup match at Newcastle United but comes into the first XI tonight.
Stones hasn’t featured since the Community Shield game with Arsenal back at the start of August but takes his place on the bench tonight.
Great to have Rodrigo, Bernardo and John back.
FRANCIS LEE TRIBUTE
It’s been a very emotional time at City these past few days after the announcement of the passing of sky blue legend, Francis Lee.
Francis made 330 appearances for City, scoring 148 goals.
He won one First Division title, one FA Cup, one League Cup, a European Cup Winners’ Cup and two Charity Shields during a glittering eight-year spell as a player – a legacy that ensures his position among Manchester City’s all-time greats is secure.
We’ve heard from a host of respected figures in the world of football, including Pep Guardiola in his press conference and an emotional tribute from his good friend Mike Summerbee.
The first team also held a minute’s silence at the CFA when the sad news was confirmed.
Tonight, our players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect, as will those of opponents RB Leipzig.
RIP Francis – you’ll never be forgotten.
MATCH STATS
- This is the third consecutive campaign City are facing RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League, having met them in the Group Stages of 2021/22 and the Round of 16 in 2022/23.
- City have lost just one of our last 21 UEFA Champions League games against German sides (W16 D4), though that defeat did come at RB Leipzig in December 2021.
- City set a new record for shots from inside the box that Opta has on record (2003/04 onwards) in a UEFA Champions League match in our 3-1 win over Crvena Zvezda (28), while their 82 touches in the opposition box were the most by a side since Bayern Munich v Viktoria Plzen in October 2013 (83).
- Leipzig have only lost one of their last seven UEFA Champions League matches (W5 D1), although that was a 7-0 loss to Man City in March. The German side are looking to win their opening two group stage matches for the very first time.
- City have lost just two of our last 30 UEFA Champions League group stage matches (W22 D6), one of which was at RB Leipzig in December 2021. Three of their last seven away group games have ended goalless, having not drawn 0-0 in any of their first 29 on the road before this run.
- City manager Pep Guardiola has faced Marco Rose on four previous occasions, with all four coming in the UEFA Champions League within the last four seasons. Guardiola is unbeaten against the current RB Leipzig boss, winning three of the four matches (D1) and keeping a clean sheet in all three wins.
- Julian Alvarez attempted eight shots and created seven chances against Crvena Zvezda, becoming only the third player on record (2003/04 onwards) to hit both totals in a single UEFA Champions League game, after Karim Benzema (v Shakhtar Donetsk in 2022) and Arjen Robben (v Chelsea in 2012).
- Erling Haaland has scored 11 goals in just six appearances against RB Leipzig in all competitions, netting five times in City’s 7-0 win against them in the UEFA Champions League last season. Indeed, he’s scored more goals against RB Leipzig than any other opponent in his career with top-flight clubs so far.
