Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca must decide on his starting line-up for tonight's Champions League tie against RB Leipzig, with midfield and defensive calls at the centre of his thinking.
The Blues are nearing the end of a demanding run that has seen them play nine matches in just over a month, split by international breaks. Tonight's European fixture and Saturday's Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest are the final two games before domestic football pauses for Nations League duties.
Midfield choices
A key question is the make-up of the midfield. Maresca could keep the central trio used against Brighton on Saturday, handing Ayyoub Bouaddi another start alongside Elliot Anderson, with Enzo Fernandez pushing further forward.
That selection would leave no room for Rayan Cherki in his favoured No.10 role, meaning the France international may again be on the bench. Phil Foden would start on the right and Jeremy Doku on the opposite flank, with Erling Haaland leading the line.
Defensive concerns
Maresca must also weigh up his back four after individual errors from Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marc Guehi and Matheus Nunes contributed to defeats against Aston Villa and Brighton in the last two Premier League fixtures.
Despite those errors, all three could start in Germany, with captain Ruben Dias and former Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol completing the XI. Gvardiol faces pressure from Nico O'Reilly given the Croatia international's recent indifferent form.
Predicted City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Bouaddi, Anderson, Fernandez. Foden, Doku, Haaland.
