Crvena zvezda vs Manchester City (UEFA Champions League): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How to Watch | OneFootball

Manchester City travel to the Serbian capital of Belgrade to finalise their UEFA Champions League group stage campaign with a contest against Crvena zvezda.

City come into the contest knowing that regardless of the result in Serbia, they will be in the draw for the last-16 of the competition as both a qualified outfit and as the winners of their group after a flawless opening five matchdays.

Successive 3-1 results in favour of the current holders of the competition in the opening three matchdays were followed by a 3-0 home victory over BSC Young Boys and a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over RB Leipzig last time out in the tournament.

A first-half Lois Openda brace had the Etihad Stadium fearing a late surge for first spot in the group from the Bundesliga side, before second-half goals from Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Julian Alvarez showed City’s title-credentials.

That victory was shrouded by flaws in City’s Premier League calendar, with three draws surrounding that European victory, only to be topped off by a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in Birmingham last week.

Thankfully for Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City players, that streak in the Premier League was brought to an end through a 1-2 win over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, in another comeback win for the reigning Champions.

The meeting with Crvena zvezda this week precedes one final Premier League outing on Saturday afternoon ahead of Manchester City’s maiden FIFA Club World Cup campaign in Saudi Arabia.

The Champions League winners will enter the competition at the semi-final stage, taking on either Club Leon or Urawa Red Diamonds in the last-four of the competition, whilst Fluminense will also embark from the same stage.

Fixture details

Manchester City take on Crvena zvezda at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Belgrade, Serbia on Wednesday evening with kick-off scheduled for 17:45 (UK).

Team news

Pep Guardiola will be without four key first-team players for the trip to Serbia this week, with confirmation of such absences in the club’s 23-man travelling squad revealed on Tuesday evening.

Kevin De Bruyne remains ruled out for the European champions as he continues his recovery from hamstring surgery in the summer, with a return date currently pencilled in for early in the new calendar year.

Attacking duo Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku also remain ruled out through respective injury problems, whilst the former is expected to return on Thursday before undergoing an assessment on his fitness before the weekend’s clash with Crystal Palace.

Ederson is a fresh absentee following the weekend’s victory over Luton Town, with the Brazilian withdrawing from duties in Serbia through illness, thus handing an opportunity for game time to number two choice Stefan Ortega Moreno.

Head to head

Manchester City and Crvena zvezda have only met once before in their histories, with that clash coming on matchday one of the ongoing 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage at the Etihad Stadium.

A second-half brace from Julian Alvarez alongside a strike from the hero in Istanbul Rodri turned around Crvena zvezda’s shock half-time lead through a counter-attacking goal from Osman Bukari.

Statistics

How to watch

Crvena zvezda vs Manchester City will be available to watch live for viewers in the United Kingdom on TNT Sports 2, with radio commentary available on BBC Radio Manchester.

Residents in the United States can watch the game live on Paramount+.

Full global TV channel listings for Wednesday evening’s contest are available here.

City Xtra will also cover the game live on YouTube through our Live WatchAlong show below!