City travel to RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday with Enzo Maresca considering changes after successive Premier League defeats.
City have no fresh injury concerns, with Antoine Semenyo their only confirmed senior absentee. Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki are both pushing for starts, while Leipzig manager Martin Demichelis has several injury problems to contend with. The match kicks off at 8pm GMT at the Red Bull Arena, where City will be looking for their third victory in four Champions League matches this season.
Man City team news: Semenyo remains sidelined
Semenyo has missed City’s past four matches with a knee injury sustained against Ipswich Town last month. The Ghana international was absent from Tuesday’s training session and is not expected to return until December. Maresca otherwise has a strong squad available and could make changes following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Brighton.
Foden is among those in contention after scoring a hat-trick in City’s 5-1 Champions League victory over AEK Athens. Cherki could also return to the starting line-up, potentially playing behind Erling Haaland with Foden operating on the right.
There are decisions to make in defence, where Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly are pushing for recalls after starting on the bench against Brighton. Ayyoub Bouaddi could also make way in midfield after starting the previous two matches. Maresca must also decide whether to retain Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal. The Italian has been his regular choice, although the City manager recently made clear that no player was guaranteed a starting place.
Geronimo Rulli impressed in the Carabao Cup victory over Brighton and provides an alternative, but Donnarumma remains the more likely selection.
RB Leipzig team news: Ouedraogo and Guiu ruled out
Leipzig will be without Assan Ouedraogo and Marc Guiu, while defender Maxime Esteve is doubtful for the visit of City. Ouedraogo is recovering from a shoulder injury, and Guiu remains sidelined with a muscle problem. Esteve missed Saturday’s 2-0 Bundesliga victory at Schalke after picking up a knock.
There is better news for Demichelis in attack, with Christopher Nkunku back in training following a groin problem. The former Chelsea forward was an unused substitute against Schalke and could feature on Wednesday, although a starting place remains uncertain.
Christoph Baumgartner is another option after returning from a lengthy injury absence, while Antonio Nusa, Brajan Gruda and Romulo are expected to provide much of Leipzig’s attacking threat. Nusa has scored five goals this season and could start on the left, with Demichelis weighing up his options in midfield.
City looking to respond in Germany
City arrive in Leipzig after defeats against Aston Villa and Brighton brought an end to their unbeaten start in the Premier League. Their Champions League results have been better. Maresca’s side beat Porto 2-0 and AEK Athens 5-1, either side of a 4-2 home defeat by Paris Saint-Germain, leaving them with six points from three matches.
Leipzig have taken three points from their opening three European fixtures, beating PSV Eindhoven but losing away to Como and Real Madrid. The German side have been stronger at home and go into Wednesday’s match on the back of three successive victories in all competitions.
Demichelis, who spent three seasons at City as a player, will be facing his former club as a manager for the first time. Haaland has an impressive record against Leipzig, scoring 12 goals in eight appearances, including five in City’s 7-0 Champions League victory in March 2023.
With Semenyo unavailable, the Norwegian is expected to lead the attack again. The main question for Maresca is whether Foden and Cherki will return alongside him as City look to improve on their recent performances.
Predicted RB Leipzig and Man City line-ups
RB Leipzig (4-3-3): Vandevoordt; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Banzuzi, El Aynaoui, Baumgartner; Gruda, Romulo, Nusa.
Man City (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Fernandez; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.
Both line-ups are predictions, with the confirmed teams due to be announced approximately an hour before kick-off.
City have more options available, but Leipzig’s home form suggests Maresca’s side will face a difficult test. The return of Foden and Cherki to the starting line-up would give City additional attacking options as they seek a response to Saturday’s defeat.
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