It’s some reception for the players as they emerge onto the pitch in Zagreb. The home fans are ready for this!
Pep speaks to BT Sport: “Phil Foden just has to have fun and play. As managers, we have the ideas, but they are the artists and they have to play.”
No pressure then …
So what are City up against tonight? By all accounts a pretty decent Dinamo Zagreb team, who lead their domestic division by 12 points already having scored 32 goals in their 17 matches so far. But their real strength is at the back, having conceded only eight times in the league. Dinamo gave a pretty decent account of themselves at the Etihad in the 2-0 defeat back in October so they are not to be taken lightly.
So that’s eight changes for City from the side that lost the Manchester derby … only Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus remain. Interested to see how teenage defender Eric Garcia fares at the back tonight.
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The teams
Dinamo Zagreb: Livakovic, Stojanovic, Arijan Ademi, Dilaver, Moubandje, Gojak, Moro, Olmo, Kadzior, Petkovic, Orsic.
Subs: Zagorac, Hajrovic, Majer, Gavranovic, Situm, Ivanusec, Gjira.
Manchester City: Bravo, Cancelo, Otamendi (C), E Garcia, Mendy, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Mahrez, Foden, Bernardo, Jesus
Subs: Ederson, Walker, Sterling, Zinchenko, Angelino, De Bruyne, Harwood-Bellis.
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Preamble
It’s a big night for one team at the Stadion Maksimir, although fortunately that isn’t Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s men have already assured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League after three wins and two draws so far in the group stage, meaning they are in the hat as group winners no matter happens tonight against Dinamo Zagreb.
The Croatians are vey much still in with a shout of making it through, which would be some achievement. Nenad Bjelica’s side are currently third, one point behind Shakhtar Donetsk, and will require victory to stand a chance. The Ukrainians are playing Atalanta at home, who also have an outside chance of qualifying so it really is set up for a fascinating evening.
City are likely to give a run out to a few of their fringe players so expect to see Phil Foden picked in midfield, although goodness knows who Pep might select in defence. Zagreb are no soft touch having already thrashed Atalanta 4-0 at home and drawn both matches against Shakhtar and will be cheered on by a packed stadium as they attempt to make history.
The Croatian champions have never qualified from the group stages of the Champions League before and have a prolific striker in the form of Mislav Orsic. The 26-year-old has 17 goals this season and has recently earned a call up to the Croatian national team so may cause City a few headaches tonight. Should be interesting …
Kick-off: 5.55pm GMT, 6.55pm local.
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