Man Metropolis Harm Checklist Dominates Galatasaray Construct-Up
Manchester Metropolis method a decisive Champions League evening with urgency sharpened by circumstance. A go to from Galatasaray brings the clearest of equations on the Etihad Stadium, win or threat an undesirable detour via the play-off spherical. The backdrop, is a squad stretched skinny by accidents in essentially the most delicate space of the pitch.
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Pep Guardiola is with out three senior central defenders. John Stones, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias are all sidelined long run, leaving Metropolis brief on the again at exactly the second European margins tighten. Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake are the one two senior centre-back choices obtainable, whereas Max Alleyne has been pressed into service after being recalled from his mortgage at Watford.
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January Reinforcements Supply Future Aid
These absences accelerated Metropolis’s switch exercise. The membership moved rapidly to safe Marc Guehi for £20million, a deal formed by necessity as a lot as planning. Nonetheless, the England worldwide can’t be registered for the Champions League till the knockout rounds, a restriction that additionally applies to Antoine Semenyo. Their presence presents reassurance for what might comply with, not for what lies instantly forward.
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Metropolis enter the ultimate matchday eleventh within the desk, shut sufficient to the highest eight to nonetheless harbour hope of direct qualification. That path is determined by a victory right here and beneficial outcomes elsewhere. Failure would prolong the marketing campaign into February, one thing Guardiola would favor to keep away from given the present workload.
Guardiola Manages Key Health
There have been indicators of warning on the weekend. Erling Haaland and Phil Foden had been each rested from the beginning towards Wolves earlier than showing as second-half substitutes. Guardiola later defined that Haaland was “exhausted” and that his minutes had been being managed, a reminder that even Metropolis’s most sturdy property have limits.
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Jeremy Doku, talking alongside Guardiola earlier than this fixture, hinted strongly at a beginning position. In midfield, Nico Gonzalez faces a late health take a look at as Metropolis search for cowl following Rodri’s suspension, an extra complication in an already delicate stability.
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Predicted Man Metropolis Lineup Emerges
Choice feels formed by necessity slightly than desire, however readability stays important.
Predicted Man Metropolis XI (4-1-4-1):
Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Alleyne, O’Reilly; Gonzalez, Cherki, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland
Injured: Dias, Stones, Gvardiol, Bobb, Savinho, Kovacic
Doubt: Nico
Suspended: Rodri
Ineligible: Semenyo, Guehi
Kick-off is at 8pm GMT on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, stay on TNT Sports activities.