Manchester City will hope to bounce back immediately from their Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid this week, when they host Newcastle United on Sunday.
The Premier League champions were dumped out of Europe after a 6-5 aggregate loss to Los Blancos over two legs, meaning their only prospect of winning silverware this season can come in the league.
City currently sit a point clear of second-placed Liverpool, although that could change by the time the Sky Blues are in action on Sunday, with Jurgen Klopp’s side facing Tottenham Hotspur the day before.
A win at the Etihad this weekend would leave City in the driving seat with just three games remaining, which come against Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United and Aston Villa.
But taking three points against an in-form Newcastle side is far from an easy task now, after a huge upturn in form over the second half of the season from the Magpies.
Pep Guardiola will also be wary of the physical toll Wednesday’s game could have given they travelled to Madrid and also played 120 minutes.
It’s for that reason, the City boss may look to rotate his squad for Sunday’s match, and bring in some of the players who started on the bench at the Bernabeu.
We’re also predicting Guardiola could rest at least one key man, perhaps Bernardo Silva after an energy-sapping game in Madrid in which he played the full two hours, although Phil Foden is also an option to be rotated.
Kyle Walker is not expected to play after suffering a recurrence of his ankle injury in Wednesday, while John Stones is likely to remain on the sidelines.
Here’s how the Catalan’s side could line up against the Magpies…
City currently sit a point clear of second-placed Liverpool, although that could change by the time the Sky Blues are in action on Sunday, with Jurgen Klopp’s side facing Tottenham Hotspur the day before.
5. Nathan Ake
Either Ake or Oleksander Zinchenko will play at left-back, and the former’s lack of involvement at the Bernabeu means he is the fresher option for Sunday.
6. Rodri
There were suggestions he had an illness in midweek, but the Spaniard should play against Newcastle given his importance to the team.
7. Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian was replaced in midweek but Guardiola confirmed in his press conference that the influential midfielder did not suffer any form of injury.
8. Ilkay Gundogan
Came on in Madrid and should be fresher than Silva, who we’re tipping to start on the bench.