Manchester City head to Stamford Bridge this weekend in confident mood having sealed their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola’s side strolled to a 3-0 victory over Young Boys midweek, and there was the added boost of seeing Erling Haaland back in the team and scoring, having been subbed off at half-time against Bournemouth last time out in the league.

In terms of the starting lineup to take on Chelsea, Ederson is set to start in goal, but there will have to be a change in the backline after it was confirmed that John Stones will be out for some time with a muscular injury.

Ruben Dias is likely to start alongside Nathan Ake at centre-half, with Josko Gvardiol on the left flank and Kyle Walker playing from the opposite side.

There is often a debate about City’s system, with Guardiola using a back three when he starts Stones, with the defender moving into midfield positions, but the Premier League champions may opt for a more traditional back four against Chelsea.

In the middle of the park, Rodri could start alongside Bernardo Silva, with the pair having dovetailed brilliantly during their last away game against Manchester United at the end of last month.

After scoring and providing 4 assists in the win over Bournemouth, Jeremy Doku deserves to start ahead of Jack Grealish on the left wing. With Silva playing in a deeper position, it may mean that Phil Foden starts on the right-hand side.

Julian Alvarez is expected to play as the support striker, although he does drift into wider positions. Haaland will lead the line, having scored a brace last time out versus Young Boys.

Manchester City’s Predicted XI To Take On Chelsea

Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Foden, Rodri, Silva, Doku, Alvarez, Haaland

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