Man City predicted line-up v Sporting Lisbon: Three changes amid injury crisis - gallery

Manchester City head to Portugal for Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon, a game laden with pre-match subplots.

As if the Hugo Viana narrative surrounding City wasn’t enough, Sporting are about to lose another significant staff member, with Ruben Amorim bound for Manchester in the next week. Pep Guardiola and Kyle Walker both brushed off questions about the incoming Manchester United manager in the last few days, ahead of Tuesday’s peculiar meeting with City, which comes less than five weeks before he’ll manage in a Manchester derby.

But City have bigger concerns. Namely, an injury crisis which is threatening to engulf their season. While Guardiola was extremely complimentary of Bournemouth at the weekend, if City had travelled to the south coast with a fully fit squad, then it’s likely the Cherries would not have taken all three points.

Instead, the Blues were without John Stones, Ruben Dias and Jack Grealish, in addition to the long-term absences of Rodri and Oscar Bobb. Kevin De Bruyne was an unused substitute and Guardiola is still trying to ease the Belgian back in after an injury that has kept him on the sidelines for nearly seven weeks.

Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake are also struggling with minor knocks at present and Kyle Walker returned to the team at the weekend despite not properly training in 18 days. Finally, Rico Lewis was afforded a rare rest at the Vitality Stadium and only came on for the final stages.

With all that in mind, here’s how we think Guardiola will line-up for Tuesday’s Champions League encounter.