Manchester City are taking on Sporting CP in their latest Champions League match.
Pep Guardiola is hoping for a response after his side lost 2-1 to Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Sporting will potentially pose a big threat, having started the new season extremely well. The Portuguese giants, led by Ruben Amorim who will soon join Manchester United, have plundered 35 goals in the league so far.
As fans well know, City are contending with a number of injury problems at the moment.
Ruben Dias, John Stones and Jack Grealish were all ruled out of tonight’s game, with Rodri and Oscar Bobb the long-term absentees.
Guardiola said both Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji had ‘problems’, so fans were very intrigued to see what tonight’s team would be.
With just about an hour to go until kick-off, Guardiola has now named his starting XI to face Sporting.
Confirmed Man City XI to face Sporting CP – Simpson-Pusey makes shock full debut
Guardiola had said that Stefan Ortega would be starting against Sporting, but he has seemingly changed his mind today and actually gone with Ederson in goal. The Brazilian is protected by a backline of Rico Lewis, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Akanji and Josko Gvardiol.
It is a full debut for Simpson-Pusey, who made his first senior appearance against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup recently.
Mateo Kovacic, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva – who is the captain – make up the midfield.
And in attack, it’s Savinho, Erling Haaland and Matheus Nunes as a three.
‘Massive’ – Man City fans buzzing as Simpson-Pusey makes full debut
City fans have this evening been reacting to Guardiola naming Simpson-Pusey in his starting XI.
It is an extremely bold call from the manager, and hopefully the teenager will be able to make an impression tonight.
Huge opportunity for Simpson-Pusey
Simpson-Pusey starting tonight is not something many will have seen coming, and it is undoubtedly a huge show of faith from Guardiola.
The 19-year-old is being thrown in at the deep end, to play against the hottest striker in Europe at the moment in Viktor Gyokeres, so he has a huge job on his hands.
But clearly, Guardiola feels he is up to the task.
The youngster will have the best wishes of everyone associated with the club, and this could well be the night we see another top talent emerge for City.
