Manchester City will try to maintain their unbeaten record when they host Sevilla in the final group stage match in the Champions League.
Manchester City will hope to test their reserves, having already qualified for the knockout stages, while Sevilla will be competing in the UEFA Europa League. The reigning English champions thrashed the Spanish outfit 4-0 in the last meeting and will be keen to replicate the same this week.
City’s dependence on Erling Haaland took a back seat as a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick was enough to subdue Leicester City in the Premier League. Three consecutive wins followed by two successive draws were enough for Manchester City to cement the top spot. And a draw will also do as Pep Guardiola is aiming is to enter the next stage with an unbeaten run.
The Citizens will host two Premier League matches against Fulham and Brentford while looking to get the better of Chelsea in between in an EFL Cup third-round fixture before the World Cup.
The arrival of Jorge Sampaoli has not changed Sevilla’s fate much as they are still fighting for consistency. A lot of water has flown under the bridge, but Los Nervionenses have not managed to get their La Liga campaign back on track as they are in the relegation zone.
With a number of important domestic fixtures piling up, Sevilla will feel the heat and might opt to field a second-string side. They will not take a risk, keeping in mind the upcoming World Cup. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Erling Haaland will miss tomorrow's game with Sevilla. pic.twitter.com/IkUjLj350Q
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 1, 2022
Erling Haaland will miss out against Sevilla as Pep Guardiola will give him a well-managed rest to recover from a foot injury. Cole Palmer’s involvement is doubtful, while Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips remain on the sidelines.
Stefan Ortega will get the nod ahead of Ederson Moraes, with Guardiola already making it clear his main priority was to secure the top spot in Group G, which is already done. Ruben Dias will partner Nathan Ake at the heart of the Manchester City defence.
Sergio Gomez will be available following his suspension, and he, alongside Joao Cancelo, will have the responsibility of the full-back department. Kevin De Bruyne will get a breather, with Bernardo Silva partnering Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri in the middle of the pitch.
Phil Foden had a small cameo against Leicester City, and he will appear on the right flank. Jack Grealish will operate from the left wing, with Julian Alvarez deputising for Haaland.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ortega; Cancelo, Dias, Ake, Gomez; Silva, Rodri, Gundogan; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish
Sevilla
For Sevilla, Jesus Corona and Tanguy Nianzou will not be available to take on Manchester City, while Fernando also misses out.
Marko Dmitrovic will be ready for some action-packed moments in the goal, with Marcao partnering Nemanja Gudelj at the heart of the Sevilla defence. Former Manchester City man Jesus Navas should feature as the right-back, while Marcos Acuna will be the left-back.
📋 The 2⃣4⃣-man 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 for our #UCL match 🆚 @ManCity 💪 pic.twitter.com/KF5FOWwNnc
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) October 31, 2022
Ivan Rakitic and Joan Jordan should be the preferred pair in the midfield double pivot. Isco will be granted a place in his favoured no. 10 role. The Spaniard will have the service of Adnan Januzaj and Papu Gomez from the flanks. Finally, Rafa Mir will lead the line for Sevilla against Manchester City.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Dmitrovic; Navas, Gudelj, Marcao, Acuna; Jordan, Rakitic; Januzaj, Isco, Gomez; Mir
Key Stats
- Manchester City have won all three of their UEFA Champions League matches against Sevilla, scoring nine goals and conceding just twice. Los Nervionenses have only faced Borussia Dortmund more often without winning in the competition (four games).
- Pep Guardiola has only lost two of his 13 games against Sevilla as a manager (W9 D2), with his teams averaging 2.5 goals per game against them (33 in total). His only home defeat against them came in January 2010, with his Barcelona side losing in the Copa del Rey against Manolo Jimenez’s Sevilla (1-2).
- Sevilla’s last win over an English side in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League was in November 2007 – a 3-1 victory against Arsenal, in which Jesus Navas started. Since then, Sevilla are winless in the last seven such games (D3 L4), with the last two both being 0-4 defeats – vs Chelsea and Manchester City.
- Jack Grealish has been involved in more sequences of play that have produced a shot (31) than any other Manchester City player in the UEFA Champions League this term. He has also created more chances from open play (ten) than any of his Manchester City teammates.
Player to Watch
Bernardo Silva
The Portuguese playmaker often does not get the credit he deserves. But Bernardo Silva has been playing a silent role in keeping Manchester City competitive in the last few seasons. In Kevin De Bruyne’s absence, he will have the license to build a strong attacking unit to keep City’s record intact in this continental competition.
Prediction
Manchester City 2-1 Sevilla
Despite fielding a second-string side, Manchester City have the capability to demolish Sevilla if they find the right opportunities. The onus will be on the visiting side to take away something from their visit, and Jorge Sampaoli is known to be a very tricky manager who could inflict a surprising loss on their opponent. But the hosts should clinch a 2-1 win on Wednesday.
