Jack Grealish to retain place, Phil Foden to start - Predicted XI: Borussia Dortmund vs Manchester City (Champions League)

Coming off the back of a 3-1 win against a tricky Brighton side on Saturday afternoon, Manchester City will be entering their upcoming clash against Borussia Dortmund in high spirits.

With their qualification to the round of 16 of the competition confirmed, the Premier League champions can feel at ease during their contest against the Bundesliga heavyweights.

However, Borussia Dortmund will be aiming to make Manchester City’s visit to the Signal Iduna Park as unwelcoming as possible, especially after nearly restricting the tournament favourites in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium.

Dortmund will be aware that should they take anything from the game against Pep Guardiola's side, then they could be within a chance of progressing to the knock-out stages as Group G winners.

For City, they will know that they just need to avoid defeat in order to head back to Manchester as group champions - increasing their chances of a favourable knock-out stage draw.

After making light-work of Hannover 96 via a 5-0 annihilation at home, the German side will back themselves to pull off an upset against the visitors on Tuesday.

In an enticing clash that is set to have all eyes on it, here is how we expected Manchester City to line-up!

Starting XI

Much like in any high-profile fixture, Ederson will remain Manchester City’s starting goalkeeper.

Manuel Akanji could retain his place at right-back, despite not being at his best in the role against Brighton on Saturday.

Ruben Dias is likely to start once again, as is expected from one of the side’s most key players in such a big game.

Considering Pep Guardiola implied that Aymeric Laporte’s knock against the Seagulls was nothing to be worried about, he could keep his place in the starting XI.

As for Joao Cancelo, he remains a virtually undroppable presence at left-back.

Manuel Akanji in action for Manchester City.

While Kalvin Phillips returned to individual training on Monday morning, the England international is far from reaching full fitness for Rodri to be rotated as soon as against Dortmund.

After an all-action showing against Robert De Zerbi’s side, Bernardo Silva is likely to start once again in midfield against the German giants.

Off the back of a belter from outside the box that confirmed Manchester City’s 3-1 win against Brighton, Kevin De Bruyne’s starting place in this one is not up for debate.

Bernardo Silva in action for Manchester City.

Rested in the Premier League champions’ latest victory for Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden is dead set to start on Tuesday night.

Erling Haaland continued his frightening record in front of goal with a clinical brace against Brighton and is likely to be unleashed against his former employers once again.

Considering Jack Grealish was benched in City’s two games before playing from the off on the weekend, there is no doubt that he starts against Borussia Dortmund.

Foden scores for City (PA Images / Alamy)

Starting XI: Ederson; Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo; Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne; Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish.

Substitutes: Stefan Ortega Moreno, Scott Carson, Rico Lewis, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez, Cole Palmer, Julian Alvarez.