Club insider hints at last-minute overthink from Pep Guardiola ahead of Real Madrid clash | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola may have had a last-minute change of heart when it came to his Manchester City starting line-up against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

The Premier League champions welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium in the first-leg of an enthralling two-legged affair for a place in the UEFA Champions League’s last-16 stage having finished in 22nd position during the league phase.

A matchday eight comeback win over Club Brugge would ensure Manchester City avoided immediate elimination from the competition, however set them up for a meeting against either the Spanish giants or Bayern Munich.

The follow-up draw would confirm that it would be Manchester City against Real Madrid for the fourth season running in the latest edition of a fascinating European rivalry that has brought some of the very best and most memorable matches in recent years.

And the latest edition has sprung yet more surprises upon those awaiting the fixture, with Pep Guardiola opting to confirm a starting line-up that features five central defenders in various positions within his defensive unit.

However, in a post to social media on Tuesday evening, the ever-reliable Manchester City source ‘FPLMaineRoad’ on X stated, “All I’m saying is that wasn’t the (Manchester City) team until (Real) Madrid released their line-up.”

Pep Guardiola has since confirmed that John Stones will start in the defensive midfield role for his side against the La Liga leaders, in a role that the England international made his own during the run to a historic Treble back in 2023.

There is also likely to be a place at right-back for Manuel Akanji, and it remains to be seen whether the Swiss international will invert into the defensive midfield role alongside Stones, in an operation that has been deployed by Guardiola in the past.

Nathan Ake is expected to then start alongside Ruben Dias at the heart of Manchester City’s rearguard, with Josko Gvardiol taking up his usual role at left-back and offering some attacking width when required.