Manchester City resume their UEFA Champions League campaign on Tuesday night when they host Serie A side Atalanta. It’s a group C clash featuring two sides that have had polar opposite results thus far. City sit atop the group having taken all six points possible thus far.
Atlanta meanwhile has lost both UCL matches thus far, to Dinamo Zagreb and Shakhtar Donetsk. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the team news for both sides.
Full back Kyle Walker was not involved at in the 2-0 win at Crystal Palace because of an illness, the same ailment that forced him to withdraw against Wolverhampton Wanderers before the international break. His status is up in the air for Tuesday night.
Another defender, Nicolas Otamendi also missed out on the win in south London, due to a knock he picked up while on international duty with Argentina. However, he could be fit in time for this match. Elsewhere, Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte remain long term injury absentees.
For Atlanta Coach Gian Piero Gasperini, he could be without the services of his leading scorer, Duvan Zapata, in this one as the Colombia international is a doubt due to a thigh injury he picked up over the last international break.
Manchester City vs Atalanta (UCL) FYIs
Kickoff: Oct. 22, 8pm City of Manchester Stadium
Manchester City starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Pep Guardiola and Joao Cancelo press conference video: coming tomorrow
Google’s result probability: 78% Manchester City win, 14% draw, 8% Atalanta victory
Prediction: Manchester City 4, Atalanta 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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