Man City XI vs Galatasaray: Injury-hit Guardiola faces must-win test

Manchester City head into a decisive Champions League clash against Galatasaray with qualification still hanging in the balance and Pep Guardiola forced to navigate a mounting injury crisis.

City welcome the Turkish champions to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night knowing victory is essential if they are to keep control of their European fate. Defeat, or even a draw, could leave Guardiola’s side relying on other results to avoid a play-off round.

Guardiola remains without a cluster of senior players, particularly in defence. John Stones, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias are all sidelined long term, stripping City of their first-choice central defensive unit.

That situation has left Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Aké as the only senior centre-back options available, with academy defender Max Alleyne recalled from his loan at Watford to provide cover. January signing Marc Guéhi has already arrived for £20m, but UEFA registration rules mean he cannot feature until the knockout stages. Antoine Semenyo is also unavailable for the same reason.

Further forward, City are also missing Oscar Bobb, Savinho and Mateo Kovačić, while Nico González faces a late fitness test after picking up a minor issue.

Guardiola rotated his squad at the weekend, resting Erling Haaland and Phil Foden from the start against Wolves before introducing both in the second half. The City boss later explained that Haaland had been “exhausted”, with his workload carefully managed.

Omar Marmoush led the line in Haaland’s absence, supported by Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders in advanced midfield roles. Out wide, Rayan Cherki and Semenyo started again, with Jérémy Doku kept in reserve.

Doku has since hinted he could return to the starting XI after speaking alongside Guardiola in the pre-match press conference, suggesting City will revert to a stronger attacking line-up for this decisive fixture.

Guardiola does not have many levers left to pull, but three changes are widely expected. Haaland, Foden and Doku are all set to be restored to the starting side, with minimal movement in defence due to limited options.

Full-back changes involving Rico Lewis or Rayan Aït-Nouri are possible but considered unlikely given the lack of continuity at the back.

Predicted Manchester City XI (4-1-4-1):
Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Alleyne, O’Reilly; Rodri; Cherki, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland

Injured: Dias, Stones, Gvardiol, González, Bobb, Savinho, Kovačić
Ineligible: Semenyo, Guéhi

City sit 11th in the Champions League table, still within reach of the top eight but with no margin for error. A win would put them in a strong position to qualify automatically for the last 16, while anything less risks an additional two-match play-off in an already congested calendar.