Man City name experimental starting XI amid defensive crisis

OneFootball

Alex Mott·18 September 2019

Man City name experimental starting XI amid defensive crisis

Pep Guardiola has responded to Manchester City’s defensive crisis by naming Fernandinho and Nicolas Otamendi at centre-back.

Injuries to Aymeric Laporte and John Stones have caused much consternation over the past few weeks at City, but the Catalan coach has opted to push the Brazilian back for this game against Shakhtar Donetsk.

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City face the Ukrainian side for the third season in a row and do so without what amounts to a mixed bag of a starting XI.

How we line-up in Kharkiv! 🙌 XI | Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Fernandinho (C), Zinchenko, Gundogan, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus Subs | Bravo, Aguero, Bernardo, Silva, Mendy, Cancelo, E Garcia 🔵 #ManCity #UCL
– Wednesday, 18 September 2019

Up top, Riyad Mahrez returns to the starting XI alongside Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, while Kevin de Bruyne, Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan make up the midfield.

🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨 Taison in the starting XI! ⚒ Our player list for the @ChampionsLeague campaign opener #ShakhtarManCity. #UCL Follow the game online: https://t.co/Ics9FZdfMM.
– Wednesday, 18 September 2019

For the home side meanwhile, Taison starts in attack.