Porto vs. Man City confirmed XIs: Anderson benched as Maresca makes three changes
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Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye have been left out of Manchester City’s starting lineup for tonight’s Champions League opener against Porto at Estadio do Dragao.
The pair of summer signings both started in the Citizens' 1-0 Premier League win over Coventry last Saturday, with Anderson producing a man-of-the-match display, but both players will begin on the substitutes' bench against Porto.
Abdukodir Khusanov has also reverted to the bench, with Matheus Nunes, Phil Foden and Ayyoub Bouaddi all handed starts as manager Enzo Maresca makes a total of three changes to his first XI.
Eighteen-year-old summer signing Bouaddi will make his full debut for Man City and is expected to take Anderson's place in centre-midfield alongside club-record arrival Enzo Fernandez.
After recovering from an ankle issue, Nunes will start his first game of the new season at right-back, joining captain Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol in a four-man defence protecting goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The return of Foden to the starting lineup is set to see him begin on the right side of attack, with Antoine Semenyo moving over the the left as Rayan Cherki continues in the number 10 role behind striker Erling Haaland, who has scored three goals in his last two appearances.
Meanwhile, new recruit Allan has been selected in Man City's matchday squad for the first time since joining from Palmeiras and the winger is in contention to make his debut as a substitute.
More to follow...