How Manchester City Will Line Up Against Viktoria Plzen
As they head for a Manchester City side who've scored 18 goals in their last three matches at the Etihad Stadium, you've got to feel a little worried for Viktoria Plzen.
The Czech minnows are the latest team to try and stop City's home domination on Wednesday in a Champions League clash that, on the face of it, doesn't look like it has much riding on it.
City secured their first ever qualification for the tournament's knockout stages with their 5-2 victory over CSKA Moscow on Matchday 4, and with Plzen already eliminated from the tournament things might be a little low-key in east Manchester.
But City will be determined to keep their extraordinary goalscoring run going, and with Manuel Pellegrini likely to give plenty of players who have been on the fringes of things a chance on Wednesday night, then suddenly there might be a lot to play for.
But who will the City boss pick?
Here we've tried to get inside the Chilean's head and predict his starting XI for a match which the hosts will be relishing, even if the Czechs aren't.
Joe Hart
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Pellegrini has already confirmed (BBC) that the clash with Plzen will see Joe Hart return in the City goal for the first time since his late error in the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea last month.
Whereas in the past a game such as this might have seen City give Costel Pantilimon some valuable first team minutes, now the goalkeeping glove is on the other hand, and it will be understudy Hart who'll step into the breach for a match in which he's unlikely to have to do much.
It will be difficult for Hart to try and justify that he should be selected for the more meaningful matches―the next of which comes at home to Swansea on Sunday―if, as expected, City control the game here and win easily, but at least he'll have the opportunity to come in from the cold and get back on the pitch.
Micah Richards
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Having only featured in two Premier League matches this season, the chance for some Champions League action will be welcomed by Micah Richards.
The defender played 90 minutes in the 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich earlier in the competition, and perhaps he could return here as Pablo Zabaleta is given a rest ahead of the challenges to come.
Richards seems to have been restricted to chances such as this one for the last few years of his City career, and whilst that is bound to be a frustrating situation for a player capped 13 times for his country, it is a cycle that doesn't look like changing soon.
Martin Demichelis
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Whilst other current City first team regulars might benefit from a night off against the Czechs, perhaps it is in the best interests of the club if Demichelis keeps playing.
The Argentinean started each of his side's last four Premier League games in the continued absence of skipper Vincent Kompany, and although things haven't always gone smoothly for him, he is beginning to warm to the task of defending for his club.
Should he start, he'd expect a comfortable evening against Plzen, and he'd be all the better for it.
Joleon Lescott
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A half-time replacement for Matija Nastasic in the 6-0 hammering of Tottenham, Lescott could start in a bid to protect the fitness of the young Serbian defender.
After starting the first three Premier League games of the season, the Englishman has reverted to his usual backup status within City's incredibly strong squad, and a start here would represent his first appearance in continental competition for the club during this campaign.
Like plenty of his colleagues, he'll be keen to impress.
Aleksandar Kolarov
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Illness saw Kolarov left out of the squad against Tottenham, but provided he's back in rude health by Wednesday he could return against the Czechs.
The left-back's three appearances in City's four Champions League matches this season is in stark contrast to his one start in his club's last six assignments in the Premier League, where Gael Clichy remains the preferred option for Pellegrini.
Should Kolarov start then he could well fancy his chances of scoring, as he is yet to go a season at City without finding the net in European competitions.
James Milner
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The glorious pass that played in Jesus Navas for City's sixth goal in the Spurs victory was an example of just what Milner can do, and he should earn a fourth Champions League appearance of the season here.
The England international has only started one of the last five in the league, but he remains a steady, dependable influence in the squad and one that Pellegrini knows won't let him down.
He's never scored in the Champions League, and so perhaps he can change that here?
Yaya Toure
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There are some players who don't really need a rest, and Yaya Toure is one of them.
The Ivorian will captain City against opponents that he put to the sword with a stunning strike in a 3-0 win in the Czech Republic on Matchday 1, with the 10 minutes he was withdrawn for in that fixture remaining the only time he's missed on the pitch in the competition this season.
He's completed 90 minutes in all 12 of City's league games this season too, and he'll once again be an opposing figure on an evening when the hosts will expect to be on the front foot.
Jesus Navas
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One thing that you certainly can't accuse Navas of lacking is a sense of timing.
Just when some were beginning to question the Spaniard's performances since his summer move from Sevilla, the winger produced a stunning finish just 14 seconds into the weekend clash with Tottenham, before adding a second goal in the closing stages.
For City and Pellegrini it could now be a case of striking whilst the iron is hot, and selecting Navas again must surely be the preferred option for the Chilean.
Samir Nasri
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Although he didn't hog the headlines like plenty of his teammates, Nasri was effective in the Tottenham win.
It was his eighth start in the last nine Premier League games for his club, with the Frenchman no doubt delighted that he appears to have found a City manager who is willing to trust in him in a manner that Roberto Mancini frequently failed to do.
He's appeared in all four of his club's Champions League games too, and he won't be in the mood to relinquish his starting spot any time soon.
Sergio Aguero
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Aguero's stunning run of 14 goals in his last 11 games all started with a strike in Plzen back in September, and although it might be tempting for Pellegrini to rest him here, his form surely dictates that he should start.
Withdrawn early in the Spurs win and without another game to play until Swansea visit the Etihad on Sunday, surely Aguero should start and bid to catch up on the three players currently ahead of him in the top scorer's list in this season's Champions League: Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi.
An Aguero appearance usually means an Aguero goal at the moment, and that run could be extended here.
Edin Dzeko
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Perhaps this is the man for whom this game is the most important.
Having started four of the first six Premier League games of the season, Dzeko has now gone two months without one thanks to the terrific form of the Aguero-Alvaro Negredo partnership.
With Bosnia's first World Cup on the horizon, game time is hugely important for the forward. Whether or not he'll get that at City seems to be a constant battle that he always ends up on the losing side of though, and so games like this have assumed a great importance for him.
He scored the opener against Plzen in the 3-0 win two months ago, and at the very least he'll be targeting something similar here.
Ready in Reserve
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City's squad is so vast and powerful that the options from the bench are always numerous.
Against the Czechs, that bench is likely to be made up of first team players who are being given a rest, and others such as Javi Garcia who have struggled to gain minutes on the pitch this season.
Dedryck Boyata could also feature as Pellegrini chops and changes things, but he'll still turn to several of his regulars as he bids to pick up yet another impressive home victory.
How the Lineup Will Look
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Regardless of the personnel he picks, Pellegrini is likely to stick with the same formation that has served him so well at home so far this season.
With Dzeko leading the line and Aguero working behind him with Nasri and Navas either side, goals look a given in this lineup despite the decision to rest Negredo.
City need to win to have any hopes of finishing at the top of Group D, and whilst Bayern Munich might make that goal impossible, the hosts should at least enjoy themselves on what could well be another goal-filled evening.
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