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Manchester City are one of only five teams in this season’s Champions League who are yet to lose in the group stage, with victories in their first three matches followed by successive goalless draws against Copenhagen and Borussia Dortmund.
Indeed, a 0-0 stalemate away against Dortmund last week – which saw Riyad Mahrez miss another penalty kick – was enough to secure top spot in Group G for Pep Guardiola‘s side as well as help their German counterparts qualify as runners-up, and both sides will discover their fate in the last 16 when the draw is made on November 7.
City returned to winning ways in the Premier League, without the presence of injured goal machine Erling Braut Haaland, when they secured a slender 1-0 away victory against Leicester City on Saturday, courtesy of a stunning Kevin De Bruyne free kick early in the second half.
Although City’s upcoming clash against Sevilla is essentially a dead rubber, Guardiola and co will be keen to come away with a positive result and build momentum ahead of three more important domestic fixtures before the World Cup break.
Fifty-seven days ago, the Citizens cruised to a 4-0 victory against Sevilla in their opening Group G fixture, with Haaland (2), Phil Foden and Ruben Dias all on the scoresheet in Spain.
City will be confident of success again on Wednesday as they have won 81% of their Champions League home games since Guardiola took charge in 2016, the highest home win percentage in the competition’s history after at least 20 games under the same manager. Guardiola himself has a solid record against Sevilla, losing just two of his previous 13 meetings against them as a manager.
With just 10 points accumulated from their first 12 La Liga matches, Sevilla have subsequently slipped into the relegation zone, an unthinkable position for a side who have finished fourth in each of the previous three seasons.
Los Rojiblancos now briefly turn their attention away from domestic action as they prepare for their final Champions League fixture, with Sampaoli’s side aware that they cannot finish any higher than third place in Group G as Dortmund have a better head-to-head record.
A return to the Europa League is in store for the six-time champions, who could do with a morale-boosting triumph over Man City on Wednesday ahead of the Seville derby against rivals Real Betis this weekend.
However, success at the Etihad Stadium could prove challenging for Sevilla as they have lost all three previous meetings with the Citizens and have failed to win any of their last six away matches in the Champions League, including five draws and one defeat.
Man City boss Guardiola has confirmed that Haaland will not be involved on Wednesday as he recovers from “ligament damage”, but the Spaniard is hopeful that the striker can return to face Fulham on Saturday.
Cole Palmer is a fitness doubt, while Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips both remain out as they continue to recover from respective groin and shoulder surgeries, but Sergio Gomez is available for selection and could start at left-back after missing last week’s draw with Dortmund due to suspension.
Guardiola is expected to freshen up his starting lineup with his side already through to the knockout rounds, and he may decide to give run-outs to academy graduates Rico Lewis and Josh Wilson-Esbrand either off the bench or from the start.
Should De Bruyne, Rodri or Ilkay Gundogan be given a rest, Bernardo Silva could drop into the midfield three, with Mahrez and Foden in contention to return to the first XI and play in the front three.
As for Sevilla, Mexican winger Jesus Corona continues to recover from a broken leg and will miss the World Cup, while Tanguy Nianzou (thigh) and Youssef En-Nesyri (hamstring) are also ruled out with injuries.
Former Man City midfielder Fernando is doubtful with a virus, so Ivan Rakitic and Joan Jordan could continue in the middle of the pitch, with Thomas Delaney another option who Sampaoli could call upon.
Another former City player in Jesus Navas will be hoping to force his way into the first XI at right-back ahead of Gonzalo Montiel, while goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic could keep his place between the sticks ahead of Yassine Bounou.
Either Rafa Mir or Kasper Dolberg could replace Erik Lamela in the centre-forward position, while Suso or Papu Gomez is likely to replace Oliver Torres on the left flank as the Spaniard is ineligible to play in this season’s Champions League.
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Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Cancelo, Dias, Ake, Gomez; Bernardo, Rodri, Gundogan; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; Navas, Gudelj, Marcao, Acuna; Rakitic, Jordan; Januzaj, Isco, Gomez; Mir
Manchester City will bring their Champions League group stage campaign to a close on Wednesday evening when they take on Sevilla at the Etihad Stadium.
City secured sage passage to the last-16 of the Champions League when they played out a goalless draw in Copenhagen three weeks ago, before securing top spot in Group G when they drew with Borussia Dortmund last week. With Sevilla already guaranteed to finish third in the group and drop down into the Europa League, there is nothing riding on Wednesday’s meeting.
Pep Guardiola is therefore expected to take the opportunity to rest some of his key players ahead of a Premier League clash with Fulham on Saturday. Erling Haaland will play no part as he remains out with a foot complaint, while the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Joao Cancelo could be afforded a well-earned rest.