Manchester City vs AtalantaChampions LeagueDate: Tuesday, 22 October 2019Kick-off at 20:00 UK/ 21:00 CETVenue: Etihad Stadium (Manchester).
Manchester City vs Atalanta preview
News Team
Manchester City defender Kyle Walker and Nicolas Otamendi both back in training ahead of their Champions League Group C Tuesday's clash with Atalanta at the Etihad Stadium.
Walker missed the Premier League win Saturday at Crystal Palace through illness and Otamendi also absent with a knock sustained on international duty.
Fellow defender John Stones could also feature after an unused substitute at the weekend following a recovery from a thigh injury. Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sane remain on the sidelines.
Duvan Zapata is a doubt with Atalanta leading scorer nursing a thigh injury he took over the international break.
If the fitness test fails Zapata, Luis Muriel is expected to lead the line.
Marten de Roon pushing for a recall has been named among the substitutes for Saturday's 3-3 draw with Lazio.
key stats
It will be the first meeting between Manchester City and Atalanta. The Cityzens faces four different clubs from Italy in UEFA European competition, namely Juventus, AC Milan, AS Roma and Napoli and have taken at least one victory against each of the four clubs.
Atalanta previous European meeting with British opponents were in 2017-18 Europa League group stage, where they won both their matches against Everton, including a 5-1 hammering at Goodison Park.
Manchester City have won their opening two UEFA Champions League group stage games this season; in the previous 27 times the British team had done it, they all go to the next round.
Atalanta is the first Italian club lost the first two UEFA Champions League matches; the last team who lost their opening three in the competition Otelul Galati of Romania in 2011-12, losing all six of their group stage matches of the season.
Manchester City only faced eight shots in their two Champions League games so far this campaign, seven fewer than any other team.
PREDICTION
Pep Guardiola made so many changes at the weekend and Manchester City still have work to do. They were not outstanding but they take a hit to get the results of the previous week out of their system.
Vulnerable side is that they do not have a central defender Rodri and Fernandinho left there for the game Crystal Palace.
Rodri could walk in there, and he had a little Virgil van Dijk in her. No one seemed in a hurry or not phase her and she performed very well. It is positive to see the City register a clean sheet.
Raheem Sterling is very involved, you can take your pick from Bernardo, David Silva or Riyad Mahrez, while Gabriel Jesus scored. He will probably make three or four changes again here but I expect them to win comfortably.
Jesus had said when he was not playing, but so has Phil Foden. Give him some game time and get him involved. This can be a balance that gave him a starting place against Atalanta. It will be a comfortable night for City.
CHARLIE predicts: 4-0
