Champions League team news and preview: Man City vs Lyon
Manchester City and Lyon will contest the last quarter-final of the 2019/20 Champions League, with the winner on Saturday night due to face Bayern Munich next week. City are the overwhelming favourites on paper but cannot underestimate Lyon, who will be full of confidence after eliminating Serie A champions Juventus in the round of 16.
In the build-up to Saturday's encounter between the two sides, we have everything you need to know about the match in one place, including kick-off time, where you can watch it and all the pertinent team news.
When is kick off?
Saturday 15th August, 20:00 GMT
Where is the match?
Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon (Portugal)
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 1 / BT Sport Extra / BT Sport Ultimate
How they qualified
Manchester City passed a huge test in the round of 16 after eliminating 13-time European Cup winners Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola's side won home and away, completing a 4-2 aggregate victory. They turned in an extremely accomplished performance last week, though the narrow 2-1 victory at the Etihad would paint a slightly different picture.
Despite losing 2-1 to Juventus last week, Lyon went through on away goals after claiming a 1-0 win on home soil back in February. Memphis Depay gave Lyon the perfect start in Turin with a paneka penalty before Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to ensure a close finish. This is Lyon's first quarter-final appearance in the Champions League since 2009/10.
Team News
Things are pretty much as they were for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola still expects to be without Sergio Aguero but they haven't given up hope of the Argentine recovering from a knee injury to play some part if they progress to the last four. Fortunately for City, Gabriel Jesus has hit peak form at the right moment. Phil Foden was used as a false nine against Real Madrid last week and don't be surprised to see another tactical surprise from Guardiola here. The Spaniard has Benjamin Mendy available again after the left-back served a one-match ban last time out. Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres are ineligible after signing for the 2020/21 season.
Lyon have included left-back Youssouf Kone in their squad but the left-back hasn't featured since December and it would be a shock if he was involved in a game of this magnitude with no warm-up. Star striker Moussa Dembele was surprisingly dropped against Juventus last week and it will be interesting to see whether he is recalled here. 20-year-old Maxence Caqueret has made a real impression in Lyon's last two matches in central midfield. Jason Denayer spent four years with City without making an appearance for the club but he will line up against his former club here.
Probable XIs
Manchester City (433) - Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Laporte, Mendy; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; B. Silva, Jesus, Sterling
Lyon (352) - Lopes; Denayer, Marcelo, Marcal; Dubois, Caqueret, Guimaraes, Aouar, Cornet; Dembele, Depay
Key Battle: Kevin De Bruyne vs Houssem Aouar
All eyes will be on highly rated Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar on Saturday evening, with the gifted 22-year-old linked with a high profile move this summer. Manchester City are reportedly very keen on the French midfielder, though could face stiff competition from Juventus. Aouar has four goals and assists in six Champions League appearances this season and a thoroughly impressive WhoScored rating of 7.65 in the competition. A return of 4.5 dribbles per game is only bettered by Lionel Messi (7.7) and Neymar (7) in the competition this term.
Lyon will need a career-best performance from the youngster, particularly when factoring in City's immense midfield options. Standing in Aouar's way, in particular, is Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgium international finished the 2019/20 Premier League campaign as the WhoScored player of the season after matching Thierry Henry's record for most assists in a single season (20). De Bruyne only has three goal involvements in this season's Champions League but it hasn't been for a lack of trying. The 29-year-old registers the most key passes per game (4.2) in the competition this term.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Lyon
