Manchester City will face Sparta Prague in a UEFA Champions League clash, with both teams aiming to maintain their unbeaten runs. City manager Pep Guardiola will look to build on the team’s recent dramatic win over Wolves, though key players like Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri remain sidelined. Despite these absences, City have managed to stay competitive, and Guardiola will likely be pleased with their four points in the group stage after a draw with Inter Milan and a dominant 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava.
Sparta Prague, meanwhile, are making an impressive return to the Champions League after nearly 20 years. With a win over Red Bull Salzburg and a draw against Stuttgart, the Czech side are proving to be more formidable than many anticipated. They will come to the Etihad Stadium with confidence, hoping to surprise City and boost their chances of progressing in the competition.
Manchester City vs Sparta Prague Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola will be without Kyle Walker, Oscar Bobb, Kevin De Bruyne, and Rodri, the latter being out for the entire season. Nathan Ake has recovered from injury and could feature off the bench. Guardiola may rotate his squad, giving Matheus Nunes a start following his impressive performance against Wolves. Phil Foden and Jack Grealish could also be in line for starts, with Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland retaining their places in the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Nunes, Gundogan; Silva, Foden, Grealish; Haaland
Sparta Prague
Sparta Prague will be without Imanol Garcia and possibly Elias Cobbaut, who has yet to play this season. Martin Vitik could return to the lineup after serving a domestic suspension. Lars Friis will likely stick with his 3-4-3 formation, with Kaan Kairinen and Qazim Laci providing support in midfield, while Lukas Haraslin leads the front three.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3):
Vindahl; Vitik, Panak, Zeleny; Preciado, Kairinen, Laci, Rynes; Birmancevic, Rrahmani, Haraslin
Key Stats
- This will be the first competitive meeting between Manchester City and Sparta Prague.
- Both teams are unbeaten in this season’s UEFA Champions League.
- Manchester City have not conceded a goal in their two group stage matches.
- Sparta Prague have only won 4 of their last 22 games against English clubs.
Player to Watch
Phil Foden
Foden has faced criticism for his recent performances but remains crucial to City’s attack. He has shown glimpses of his quality, providing an assist in the Wolves game and scoring in the previous Champions League fixture. With City struggling in some attacking areas, Foden’s creativity and spark could be essential in breaking down Sparta Prague’s defense.
Prediction
Manchester City 3-0 Sparta Prague
How to Watch Manchester City vs Sparta Prague
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