Pep Guardiola might have confirmed nine Man City starters vs Real Madrid

Nine starters 'confirmed' for Madrid?

Pep Guardiola insisted that he wouldn't think about the trip to Real Madrid on Tuesday before Manchester City had recorded a vital win against Leeds, but his teamsheet suggested different. Jack Grealish was dropped for the first time in 12 league games, Ruben Dias for the first time in 15, and Rodri had started the last 25 Premier League fixures.

Also rested were Kyle Walker, John Stones and Bernardo Silva, and all seven are presumably in line to start at the Bernabeu in the Champions League after a rest. Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland would all surely start, too, leaving just two starting spots to play for on Tuesday.

Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez could both be auditioning for the right-wing role, then, against Leeds - unless Bernardo played there in Spain and Ilkay Gundogan came in. Then, Nathan Ake will be favourite to start at left-back, but did Manu Akanji or Aymeric Laporte show they were worthy of a surprise inclusion?

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Lewis justifies Guardiola praise

When opting against backing Kalvin Phillips to definitely have a long-term future at City on Friday, Guardiola praised another teammate unprompted to emphasise the task facing Phillips to adapt to this squad.

"It's thanks to Rico, he helped us to understand what we had to do to play better and better," Guardiola said. "Without Rico this season, the step we made as a team would have been more difficult. That I’m pretty convinced about that. The movement he does he makes fluid many things."

Guardiola said Lewis pushed the likes of Kyle Walker and John Stones to improve, and backed the teenager to start against Leeds for the second time