Pep Guardiola’s City faces the return of the Champions League, a competition in which they hold the title of finalist and where the Catalan coach wants to go a step further to complete his great work in Manchester. Absolute dominator of the Premier, now a chip change is demanded in search of European glory, denied last year by an inopportune Chelsea. But for this, the first step will be to impose logic in the tie that faces Sporting de Portugal, a team a priori far from the level shown by the ‘citizens’.
Probable Sporting-City line-ups
Because it is difficult to find a team in Europe that is more fit than City. Guardiola’s men have not lost a game since December, precisely in the Champions League, although it should be remembered that the defeat against RB Leipzig came on the last day of the group stage when there was nothing at stake for the ‘citizens’.
Guardiola has once again given a new twist to a football machine that borders on excellence. This is demonstrated by his twelve consecutive victories in the Premier (14 in the last 15 games) that have led him to dominate the English championship with an iron fist, taking nine points ahead of the second. Defensively, they are the best team in England and have only conceded two goals in their last five games. Thus, it is difficult to imagine that Sporting can give the bell, although in the Champions League they already know that nothing can be taken for granted.
“We have had an incredible run, but above all, we have behaved well on the pitch. In Leipzig we were mentally unprepared after qualifying, but the rest of the season was pretty good. I always say that every day we compete for ourselves every three days. We have done it in recent years and we will do it again tomorrow,” said Guardiola, who insists that his City “is not the best team in the world.” Of course, “the harmony in the group right now is exceptional. Thanks to the captains and many reasons. It is exceptional”, remarked the Catalan, who will not be able to count on Grealish or Gabriel Jesus, injured, nor on Walker, suspended.
Meanwhile, in Lisbon they know the difficulty that City represents, although they have nothing to lose. Rúben Amorim’s team arrives with the spirits heated by a Portuguese classic against Porto that continues to bring tail. The duel between the two ended in a draw (2-2), but also with five expelled due to a brawl between players, coaches and managers that could lead to harsh sanctions.
In strictly sports terms, the ‘lions’ coach has all his players available after recovering Pedro Gonçalves yesterday, who missed the last match due to injury. The Portuguese points to the ownership in a ‘eleven’ where three Spaniards are fixed, Pedro Porro, Pablo Sarabia and the goalkeeper Antonio Adán. The lane player, on loan from the ‘citizens’, is one of the most outstanding players this season and he will surely want to show things against his team.
However, this City is a lot of City.