Pep Guardiola will not risk Erling Haaland when Manchester City round off their UEFA Champions League campaign against Sevilla.
Wednesday night’s clash is a dead rubber for both teams, with the hosts already in control of Group G and the visitors to the Etihad Stadium having to settle for a Europa League campaign in the second half of the season.
That will prompt Guardiola to leave Haaland out of his starting line-up as he continues to recover from the ankle injury that ruled him out of the weekend win at Leicester.
The manager said on Tuesday: “He is feeling better. Compared to Saturday, Sunday, Monday, every day is better. It’s still not 100 percent, we don’t want to take any chances. I hope we have him against Fulham.”
A number of rotations can be expected from City with Stefano Ortega set to take Ederson’s place in goal.
Sergio Gomez is expected to start at left-back and Julian Alvarez can hope to retain his place at the forefront of the attack, possibly joined by Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish.
Dropouts for youngsters Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Rico Lewis are looming, while Cole Palmer is back after the weekend win through injury.
Guardiola, however, tempered expectations of youth players featuring against Sevilla. He said: “Not for this game. When we come back in one month and a half, it depends on Carabao Cup. It’s important to see them get minutes, to play as good as possible and that’s all.”
Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips remain absent.
Predicted Manchester City XI:
Ortega; Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gomez; Silva, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish.
Predicted Sevilla XI:
Dmitrovic; Navas, Gudelj, Marcao, Acuna; Rakitic, Jordan; Januzaj, Isco, Gomez; Mir
