Manchester City get ready for the first game as the defending champions of the Champions League when they welcome Red Star Belgrade to the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City are big favourites to win the group and secure a comfortable passage into the knockout stages. This is down to the impressive squad.
Coach Pep Guardiola, though, has a couple of injury problems in the squad which may force him to rely on some fringe players.
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Current Manchester City Stats – Aiming for a 10th Successive Home Win in Europe
Manchester City have picked up nine consecutive home wins in the Champions League going back to April 2022. After making an excellent start to the new season with a 100% record since the Community Shield defeat against Arsenal, City are big favourites to win the game against Red Star Belgrade. Guardiola has plenty of options in the squad aside from the top names like Erling Haaland.
Manchester City Lineup vs Red Star Belgrade – Our Top Three
The City squad is one of the strongest in Europe, but injury to players like Kevin De Bruyne means that Guardiola may have to make changes to the team that won comfortably against West Ham during the weekend. Some of the players who can gain a look-in are:
Rico Lewis
Rico Lewis is one of the highly-rated youngsters in the Manchester City squad. The 18-year-old is expected to get more first-team opportunities this season after getting almost 1,000 minutes of action in the Premier League last season. The England Under 21 star was not in the squad for the Euro Under 2023 championship in the summer, but he is already a highly valued player in the squad.
Jeremy Doku
Jeremy Doku completed his first 90 mins since the move to Manchester City. This was also followed by a stellar display against West Ham. The 21-year-old scored his first goal for City during the weekend and he is very likely to play a role in the upcoming Champions League match.
The former Rennes midfielder doesn’t have a great experience in the Champions League after only previously featuring in six matches in this competition. He received plaudits from Guardiola after the West Ham match and he is expected to be one of the key fringe players in the Manchester City lineup vs Red Star Belgrade.
Sergio Gomez
Sergio Gomez made a strong impression at the Euro Under 21 Championship in the summer after finishing as the joint top scorer in the competition with three goals. The 23-year-old came on for the last few minutes of the game against West Ham – marking his second appearance in the Premier League this season. Gomez is likely to get more opportunities in the absence of offensive talent like Kevin De Bruyne.
The Final Word
Manchester City have picked up nine successive home wins in the Champions League. This is a formidable record built with the help of world-class players like Erling Haaland. However, there is a potential for players to also be included in the upcoming group match against Red Star Belgrade.
City will be keen on topping the group and enjoying a more favourable draw in the knockout stages. Previously, City have made lightweight of opponents who came to the Etihad Stadium as the underdogs. A similar outcome could be expected in the upcoming game with City relatively free of major injury problems. The likes of Erling Haaland will be the focal point of City’s attack once again.
