Manchester City Has An Ideal Squad To Handle Copenhagen

JAKARTA - Manchester City almost have a full squad for the second leg of the Champions League last 16 against Copenhagen at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 6 March, Thursday morning WIB.

The only player absent from injury to The Citizens was Jack Grealish, who suffered a recurrence of a groin injury in the FA Cup victory over Luton Town last week. He is believed to be sidelined throughout March, and is likely to miss a joint assignment with the England national team for the upcoming international break.

However, Man City got an injection with the return of defender Josko Gvardiol into the squad for a 3-1 comeback win over Manchester United's Premier League rivals last weekend. Previously, the Croatian player was absent in the previous six games due to an ankle injury.

It's still unclear whether Gvardiol will start on Wednesday, but it's likely that his inclusion could put Nathan Ake on the bench or play as a centre-back.

Armed with City's lead of two goals in the first leg after winning Denmark's 3-1 game three weeks ago, Pep Guardiola will probably consider making some changes to the lineup initially, where Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, and Rico Lewis have three available defensive options who will seek to get a chance to play.

Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes are predicted to compete for a place in midfield alongside Rodri, while Grealish is likely to see either Jeremy Doku or Julian Alvarez operating on the left, although the latter can play in the number 10 position if Guardiola chooses to give Kevin De Bruyne a break, paying attention to the Premier League title race against Liverpool next weekend.

The player who is in good form, Phil Foden, starred in the Manchester derby on Sunday with two goals, raising his tally this season to 18, and the England player - who was with De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva scored in the first leg win against Copenhagen. He is likely to continue his role on the right side as Norway's Erling Haaland leads the front line.

For Copenhagen, Lukas Leracer is back after undergoing a one-match ban, but the midfielder is currently in the treatment room due to a joint injury with Theo Sander, Davit Khocholava (both knee injuries), and Viktor Claesson (unspecific), the latter was forced to be withdrawn in the first half when Copenhagen lost in Midtjylland last Friday.

The four players seem absent on the way to Etihad, while Emil Hojlund - brother of Man United striker Rasmus Hojlund - is out of view and conditions will be assessed before the match begins.

In the absence of Claesson, either Andreas Total, Jordan Larsson, or a teenager whom Roony Bardghji is interested in being tasked with leading the front lines, joining Elias Achouri and former Southampton winger Mohamed Elyounoussi, in attack.

Estimated Composition Of Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Rodri; Foden, Alvarez, Doku; Haaland

Estimated Composition Of Copenhagen: Grabara; Jelert, Vavro, McKenna, Diks; Goncalves, Falk, Mattsson; Elyounoussi, Larsson, Achouri