City to come through Club Brugge test with a win
Manchester City will be keen to quickly move on from their unexpected 2-0 home loss against Crystal Palace at the weekend by gaining all three points in the Champions League against a spirited Club Brugge outfit at the Etihad Stadium. The visitors have picked up four points from three matches, including beating RB Leipzig in Germany. This will be no walk in the park for Pep Guardiola's men. Read our preview here:
Aké at the oche
Aymeric Laporte's costly dismissal will keep him out of the Manchester derby at the weekend, but might ironically make his inclusion in the XI on Wednesday evening more certain. However, he might be partnered by Nathan Aké rather than John Stones in the sky blue backline. The former AFC Bournemouth stopper has been impressive in continental competition this campaign, despite his side conceding six in three matches. Rúben Dias will likely be rested, so responsibility could fall on Aké's shoulders to stifle the dual threat in the visitors' attack. Elsewhere, Oleksandr Zinchenko will probably come in on the left, whilst Ferran Torres is the only football-related absentee from the squad. Raheem Sterling could be utilised in a central role in the 4-3-3, and will be desperate to kickstart his season.
A plentiful supply of Ket
As with many other clubs across Belgium, Blauw-Zwart have successfully integrated native youth prospects into their first teams in a continued demonstration of the relative strength in depth of the number one ranked men's nation in the world. Hans Vanaken is the perfect foil for rangy 20 year old Charles De Ketelaere, who drew praise from Guardiola himself in their previous meeting. The versatile attacker has also made his mark on the international stage, and wouldn't look out of place at one of Europe's elite sides. He defends from the front, has an eye for goal, and can play a killer pass, three qualities which rarely can be found in one individual. Head coach Philippe Clement will deploy a 4-4-1-1, looking for pockets of space in central areas. Ball winning midfielder Éder Álvarez Balanta is suspended; apart from him, it should be the same XI that has been chosen thus far.
Brugge bruised?
City have been relatively weak defensively by their lofty standards, and the De Ketelaere-Vanaken partnership could seriously test their credentials. Whilst they ought to win out in the end because of individual superiority across the pitch, it won't be without its scares. Parimatch have odds of 2.90 for Guardiola's charges to win and both teams to score.
