Sevilla vs. Manchester City: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Sevilla host Manchester City on Tuesday evening in a crucial night for Group D of this season’s Champions League.
Juventus remain top with seven points from a possible nine, with City just behind on six and Sevilla in third with three. Borussia Monchengladbach trail with just a solitary point, but their renaissance after a difficult start to the season continues, and Juventus won’t relish their trip to Borussia Park.
City travel to Seville in good form. Since the last international break, they’ve won four and drawn once, scoring 14 goals in the process.
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It was perhaps the 0-0 draw with Manchester United, though, that will have pleased their fans the most. Manuel Pellegrini is a manager known for his commitment to attacking football, but the pragmatism on display at Old Trafford showed a long overdue alternative to the open style he actively encourages.
Sevilla will be buoyed by their performance at the Etihad two weeks ago. City won the game 2-1, but Unai Emery’s side looked comfortable for large periods and were moments away from a valuable away point.
But their La Liga form has been underwhelming. They sit 11th in the table with just three wins from their first 10 games but have a squad packed full of quality. Tuesday’s game between the two will go a long way in determining who qualifies from Group D.
""We'll go all out for the win" declares Manuel Pellegrini ahead of #sfcvcity. Read: https://t.co/3yMEuG3hbW #MCFC pic.twitter.com/EcWkDOI1Sc
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) November 2, 2015"
Date: Tuesday, November 3
Kick-off: 7:45 p.m. GMT / 2:45 p.m. ET
TV Listings: BT Sport 2/BT Sport 2 HD (UK)
Live Stream: BT Sport Live Streaming (UK)
Form Guide (last 5 results)
Sevilla
Villarreal 2-1 Sevilla
Sevilla 5-0 Getafe
City 2-1 Sevilla (Champions League)
Eibar 1-1 Sevilla
Sevilla 2-1 Barcelona
Manchester City
City 2-1 Norwich City
City 5-1 Crystal Palace (League Cup)
Manchester United 0-0 City
City 2-1 Sevilla (Champions League)
City 5-1 Bournemouth
"Champions League is back! Ready for a victory and to end up this round as group leaders! #UEFA #UCL #MCFC pic.twitter.com/hEjJisUjFB
— Eliaquim Mangala (@Elia22Mangala) November 2, 2015"
Predicted Formations
Sevilla
Sevilla are without Kevin Gameiro, who pulled a muscle in the defeat to Villarreal at the weekend, and Fernando Llorente is expected to deputise. Emery will be desperately hoping influential midfielder Ever Banega is fit and available after missing training this week.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Rico; Coke, Rami, Kolodziejczak, Tremoulinas; Banega, Krychowiak; Vitolo, Krohn-Deli, Konoplyanka; Llorente.
Manchester City
David Silva and Sergio Aguero remain out, as are Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta. The good news for Pellegrini is the return to fitness of Gael Clichy and Fabian Delph, who have played 15 minutes of football between them all season.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Kolarov; Fernando, Fernandinho; Navas, Toure, De Bruyne; Bony.
Players to Watch
Sevilla: Grzegorz Krychowiak
Sevilla midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak has established himself as one of the La Liga side's best players since switching from Reims in the summer of 2014.
He impressed at the Etihad a fortnight ago with his superb work rate and high-intensity pressing. His ability to spot danger early and diffuse potentially dangerous situations make him one of the best defensive midfielders in the Spanish league.
His goal in last season's Europa League final saw him grab some headlines, and he ended the season by being named in the La Liga Team of the Year.
His form will be key in determining the outcome of this one.
Manchester City: Wilfried Bony
It's not been an easy few weeks for Wilfried Bony.
With Aguero out injured, this was seen as Bony's chance to show what he can do after a stop-start beginning to his City career. In truth, there are now more questions than answers.
It's led to criticism from the fans, so much so that former City player Mike Summerbee used his matchday programme column to call for calm.
Summerbee wrote:
"I am a bit concerned that some of our fans are on his back so soon after his arrival from Swansea. I don’t like it when our fans are too quick to judge and start picking on on one player. We are better than that.
I could reel off a very long list of names of players who started slowly at City—and many other clubs—and yet finished their time as genuine terrace heroes. Shaun Goater would be one of those.
Wilfried was ill all summer, missed pre-season and has had a limited run in the team. But the lad scored his third goal in three home games on Wednesday!
Bony is a top class striker—we know that from watching him play for Swansea—and I am sure he will find his feet and score very important goals for us as he has this month.
"
Bony's first touch veers from outstanding to poor, and his finishing has been wayward in recent weeks. There's a growing feeling the Ivorian is snatching at chances because he feels under huge pressure to perform.
Despite his misses, the 26-year-old scored three goals in October, and he will be desperate to add another in what will be a crucial match against Sevilla.
Key Battle: Ever Banega vs. Yaya Toure
Should Pellegrini opt to show some caution for the trip to Sevilla and play Fernando as out-and-out protection for City's back four, Yaya Toure could well be released into a more advanced role, similar to the one he occupied against Manchester United recently.
it means the Ivorian has far less defensive responsibility. City have certainly looked solid when Fernando has played this season, with the Brazilian showing huge improvements to his form of last season.
If Banega plays—and he missed the weekend trip to Villarreal, so it's far from certain—his battle with Toure will be vital.
Banega is a classy, deep-lying midfielder who can control matches, but if Toure is at his best in attacking areas, it will force the Sevilla man into defensive action and nullify his talents.
".@Ever10Banega, entre los 18 para recibir al @MCFC #SFCvCITY https://t.co/EgLBKpVG2k pic.twitter.com/bydQndF4U4
— Sevilla Fútbol Club (@SevillaFC) November 2, 2015"
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Sevilla: +184
City: +144
Draw: +238
Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.
