Pep Guardiola
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola awaits kickoff in the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on August 12, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / CHRIS J RATCLIFFE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/AFP/Getty Images)
As Galatasaray prepares for a season-defining stretch in the UEFA Champions League, a tactical shift from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola could provide the Turkish champions with a significant advantage in their quest for the knockout stages.
The “Yellow-Reds” are set to travel to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, for the final matchday of the league phase. However, reports from the Sabah newspaper, who quote Manchester Evening News as their source, suggest that Galatasaray may face a heavily rotated City side due to an unprecedented fixture pile-up facing the Premier League giants.
The “10-Game Marathon”
Manchester City has entered a state of “red alert” following their advancement to the EFL Cup semi-finals. Between New Year’s Day and February 1st, Guardiola’s squad is scheduled to play a staggering 10 matches across all competitions.
This grueling 30-day window includes high-stakes encounters that could decide City’s domestic and European ambitions:
Premier League Clashes: Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, and Liverpool.
Cup Commitments: EFL Cup semi-final (First Leg) and an FA Cup tie against Exeter City.
UCL Duty: Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray.
The Condition for Rotation
Currently sitting in 4th place with 13 points (4 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss), Manchester City is well-positioned to secure a top-eight finish, which grants direct entry to the Round of 16.
According to sources in Manchester, if City guarantees their top-eight status in their penultimate match against Bodo/Glimt, Guardiola is expected to rest his marquee stars for the Galatasaray fixture. With critical games against Tottenham and Liverpool immediately following the clash with “Cimbom,” the Catalan manager is prioritized squad health over a perfect group-stage record.
A Golden Opportunity for Cimbom
For Galatasaray, the timing of this congestion could not be better. While City is looking to manage fatigue, the Turkish side is fighting for every point to secure a spot in the top 24.
Facing a Manchester City side potentially missing names like Erling Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne would drastically change the dynamic of the Etihad trip, offering Okan Buruk’s men a realistic path to an upset or a crucial draw.
As the January window approaches, the eyes of Istanbul will be fixed on the Premier League’s injury list and Guardiola’s team sheets, hoping that City’s domestic “marathon” opens the door for a historic European result.