Manchester City are taking on Sparta Prague in the Champions League tonight – and it is simply a huge evening for one of the squad’s fringe players.
Manchester City are heavy favourites to win tonight, but Sparta must not be underestimated.
Like City, they have taken four points from their first two games in the League Phase, and Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that they ‘always score’.
But with the game being at the Etihad Stadium, and City in such good form in terms of results recently, fans will be expecting a comfortable night.
The team selection, as always, will be intriguing.
But one man who’s expected to start tonight is Matheus Nunes – and there really is no overstating the importance of this game for him.
Matheus Nunes has chance to send message to Pep Guardiola against Sparta Prague
Nunes signed for City from Wolves in the summer of 2023, and he still finds himself struggling to start games for the club.
But there could now be a real opportunity for him.
At the moment, Ilkay Gundogan is not really performing in the way many had hoped he would. The German is struggling to have the same influence as in his first stint at the club, and has been uncharacteristically sloppy.
And of course, Rodri is now a long-term injury absentee.
Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva are options for Guardiola in the middle, but Nunes should now see this as his chance.
He should start against Sparta tonight and it’s important he really makes the most of his time on the pitch.
Should he thrive, he will give the Man City manager something to think about.
City fans saw Nunes enjoy a really positive cameo against his former club Wolves on Sunday. He helped the team to win the game, as he produced a tackle on Goncalo Guedes to win the ball back before City had a series of corners. John Stones would go on to score at the death.
A midfield three of Mateo Kovacic, Gundogan and Bernardo really lacks dynamism. If Guardiola wanted to address that, then Nunes should be the first port of call. Certainly, many Man City fans would now like to see Nunes’ minutes increase.
How Nunes has fared at Man City since transfer from Wolves
Nunes’ £53 million transfer from Wolves did raise a few eyebrows at the time.
The club had already signed one great ball carrier in Mateo Kovacic, so some did not really understand why he was also bought. It is a transfer deal some still question to this day.
Up to now, Nunes has made 37 appearances across all competitions for City, scoring just one goal – last month against Watford in the Carabao Cup – and making six assists.
| Matheus Nunes for Man City (all competitions) |
| Appearances – 37 |
| Goals – 1 |
| Assists – 6 |
| Trophies won – 3 |
He’s won a Premier League title, a Community Shield and a Club World Cup so far, but Nunes’ contributions have not been too plentiful.
He has played 1592 minutes across all competitions, which averages out at 43 minutes per appearance.
Guardiola has been complimentary about Nunes publicly. After the win over Watford Guardiola hailed Nunes as ‘unique’ recently and also talked up his and ‘special qualities’.
He has the potential to become a regular for City, and now is his moment to grab the bull by the horns.
