Erling Haaland is one in all various Manchester Metropolis gamers poised to face their former membership when the Sky Blues host Borussia Dortmund in Champions League Group G on Wednesday evening, because the 2021 finalists look to take an enormous step in direction of qualification for the knockout levels.
After thrashing Sevilla 4-0 within the opening sport of their European marketing campaign final Tuesday, Metropolis face a Dortmund facet that additionally loved a complete victory per week in the past, thumping group minnows Copenhagen 3-0.
Pep Guardiola’s males head into matchday two having had an eight-day relaxation, after the weekend’s Premier League fixtures have been postponed following the loss of life of Queen Elizabeth II.
Hungry Haaland out for extra in essential Group G conflict
Having scored twice towards Sevilla, Haaland now has 12 objectives in his first eight video games since becoming a member of Metropolis in the summertime, and has taken his profession Champions League tally to a file 25 in 20 appearances. On Wednesday, the prolific Norwegian will once more lead the road in what’s a crunch top-of-the-table conflict.
In any case, with a double-header towards Copenhagen up subsequent, victory over Dortmund would current Metropolis with a golden alternative to gather 12 factors from the primary 4 matchdays – a haul that might virtually actually depart the Premier League champions house and hosed earlier than they shut out the group stage away in Germany and at house to Sevilla. Solely once before – Napoli in 2013/14 – has a group completed outdoors the highest two of a Champions League group with 12 factors.
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Akanji in line to retain place in Metropolis line-up
After becoming a member of Haaland in swapping Dortmund for Metropolis throughout the switch window, central defender Manuel Akanji impressed in his debut towards Sevilla, and will properly maintain his place within the facet forward of John Stones and Nathan Aké. Stones is match once more after lacking the journey to Seville with an harm picked up towards Aston Villa initially of September, however appears likelier to not begin.
With right-back Kyle Walker nonetheless unavailable after additionally selecting up a difficulty within the win at Villa, one other ex-Dortmund participant signed this summer season, Sergio Gómez, appears to be like set to play at left-back as soon as extra, with João Cancelo once more shifting over to the fitting flank.
In midfield, in the meantime, Ilkay Gündogan – who spent 5 years at BVB earlier than transferring to Manchester in 2016 – is within the body to begin alongside Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne.
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Laporte closing in on return
Central defender Aymeric Laporte continues his restoration from summer season knee surgical procedure, Guardiola telling reporters on Tuesday that the Spain worldwide might be anticipated to return to motion in early October. “After the worldwide break, he might be prepared for us to consider utilizing him,” the Metropolis head coach stated.
Wednesday’s sport might be Guardiola’s one hundred and fiftieth within the Champions League as a coach.
Potential Manchester Metropolis line-up vs Borussia Dortmund:
Ederson, Cancelo, Akanji, Dias, Gómez, Rodri, Gündogan, De Bruyne, Silva, Haaland, Foden.