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Manchester City team news ahead of Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund
Manchester City continue their Champions League campaign on Wednesday night when they host Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad.
The Blues are unbeaten in Europe so far, having taken seven points from their opening three League Phase fixtures. That tally is matched by their German opponents with both sides hoping to secure top eight spots and earn a direct route to the knockout rounds.
Pep Guardiola is close to the luxury of a fully-fit squad with Rodri having returned off the bench in the final moments of the weekend win over Bournemouth. The only absentee is Mateo Kovacic, who has suffered an ankle injury and faces an extended spell on the sidelines.
Guardiola must balance his continental selection with the looming Premier League showdown against Liverpool on Sunday but the City chief is unlikely to sway too far from the lineup against Bournemouth which delivered three points and an encouraging performance.
Gianluigi Donnarumma may have been at fault for the Cherries' goal on Sunday but he will retain his place in goal while Nico O'Reilly has been one of the form players of the season and deserves to retain his spot at left back ahead of summer signing Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are the first choice pairing in the middle and Matheus Nunes has done enough to keep his spot at right back ahead of Rico Lewis, John Stones and the fit-again Abdukodir Khusanov.
Throwing Rodri in from the start looks a risk so Nico Gonzalez can continue in the middle and the experience of Bernardo Silva might be utilised alongside him.
Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki impressed in the attacking positions behind Erling Haaland last time out but European football is a different proposition so Tijjani Reijnders could come in for Cherki. Jeremy Doku has been the most consistent wide player and can start on the left.
Predicted City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Gonzalez, Reijnders, Bernardo, Foden, Doku; Haaland
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