How Man City should line up vs Sporting in Champions League

Pep Guardiola will be without four Manchester City players for the trip to Portugal to face Sporting in the Champions League last-16 first leg.

Kyle Walker is suspended, while Jack Grealish and Gabriel Jesus have been ruled out with injury - as has youngster Cole Palmer.

When asked about Grealish, Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference: "He's better but tomorrow isn't available alongside Cole Palmer and Gabriel."

Walker's suspension could open the door for Joao Cancelo to play for City's first knockout clash of the season in the Champions League, with Aleks Zinchenko on the opposite flank.

Without Grealish and Jesus, Guardiola will have to choose from a front line from Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva. Kevin De Bruyne and Cancelo go into the game knowing a yellow card will rule them out of the second leg.

Read how our writers think City should line up below and use the interactive team selector to pick your own starting XI:

Stuart Brennan

City could not be better prepared for this important game, on a 15-match unbeaten league run as well as cruising through the group stage - and they rested some big names at the weekend to ensure freshness for this one.

Guardiola's biggest dilemma is who to play at right-back with Kyle Walker suspended - John Stones was excellent there and gives City another aerial option at setpieces, but Aleks Zinchenko was even better at left-back at the weekend, which would facilitate Joao Cancelo playing on his more natural right-hand side.

Other than that, Rodri, Aymeric Laporte and Kevin De Bruyhne should all step back in after putting their feet up on the bench at the weekend, and there is no reason to mess with the front three that undid Norwich.

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