Man City lineup vs Galatasaray predicted as Nathan Ake starts and Rayan Cherki left out

Manchester City are in Champions League action as they chase a top eight spot, needing a win at the Etihad against Galatasaray to do just that

Manchester City host Galatasaray at the Etihad Stadium tonight needing a win to try and secure a top eight Champions League League phase finish.

The Blues were humbled 3-1 in Norway by Bodo/Glimt a week ago and as a result dropped down to 11th in the standings. A cluster of sides are grouped together on 13 points and realistically City need to beat their Turkish opponents to have any chance of jumping into the top eight and avoiding a two-legged play-off tie next month.

Pep Guardiola remains without several stars with injury ruling out Ruben Dias, John Stones, Josko Gvardiol, Savinho and Oscar Bobb. Nico Gonzalez has trained and will be assessed ahead of the tie. The Blues are without the suspended Rodri following his red card in Norway while new signings Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi are ineligible.

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It means that Guardiola has relatively limited options for selection. Gianluigi Donnarumma will start in goal while Matheus Nunes impressed on his return to the side and will likely retain his right back spot.

Nathan Ake's experience could be crucial in the centre of defence alongside Abdukodir Khusanov and with limited options in the holding midfield role, Nico O'Reilly could be pushed forward with Rayan Ait-Nouri coming in at left back.

Bernardo Silva returns from a European ban and will captain the side while Tijjani Reijnders can slot in alongside him. Phil Foden and Erling Haaland both began the weekend win over Wolves on the bench but the duo are set to return with Jeremy Doku completing the line-up.

Omar Marmoush scored against Wolves and along with Rayan Cherki can offer attacking impetus off the bench.

Predicted XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, Ait-Nouri; O'Reilly, Bernardo, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland