Man City vs Atalanta match preview: Prediction, team news, injuries and line up

Manchester City are favourites to win this season’s Champions League and are currently topping Group C following victories over Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Zagreb.

Tonight the Citizens welcome Italian side Atalanta to the Etihad for a clash that should see City retain their place at the top of their group.

In the Champions League, the sides had contrasting fortunes on Matchday 2 with City seeing off Dynamo Zagreb 2-0, while Atalanta were beaten 2-1 at home by Shakhtar in stoppage time.

Tuesday’s clash will be the first time the teams have faced each other.

Manchester City team news and injuries

City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed both Kyle Walker and Nicolas Otamendi had been in training ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash.

The defenders missed Saturday’s 2-0 win away to Crystal Palace, but Guardiola said both are nearing returns.

Walker has been out with a virus, while Otamendi suffered a blow on international duty with Argentina.

However, French defender Aymeric Laporte and German winger Leroy Sane remain on the sidelines.

Guardiola has told his players they must improve if they are to finally conquer Europe.

He said on Monday: “We are able to score goals because last season we scored a lot of goals.

“This season we are not incredibly strong in the box and that is why we have to improve.

“Tomorrow we have this chance. We need six more points to qualify and tomorrow is an incredible step forward. We will see how we are in February.”

Atalanta team news and injuries

The Italian side are without their leading scorer, Colombian striker Duvan Zapata, while Russian midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi is also an injury doubt.