[Man City](/topic/man-city) begin the league phase of the competition at home to the reigning Serie A champions, but Guardiola may have one eye on Sunday’s Premier League showdown away at Arsenal.
With such a short turnaround, the Spaniard could opt to freshen things up where necessary.
The back four could change with Josko Gvardiol possibly being rested after playing his first 90 minutes of the season against Manchester United.
Nathan Ake is an option to partner Ruben Dias in central defence or Abdukodir Khusanov could move inside to allow one of Rico Lewis or Matheus Nunes to come in at right-back.
**Predicted Man City XI:** Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Ake, O’Reilly; Nico, Reijnders; Silva, Foden, Doku; Haaland
**Injured:** Marmoush, Cherki, Kovacic
**Doubts:** Stones, Ait-Nouri
**Time and date:** 8pm BST on Thursday, September 18, 2025