Manchester City will face Red Star Belgrade in their first match of the 2023/24 Champions League campaign. As the reigning champions, City are aiming to secure another title in the prestigious tournament. Red Star Belgrade will face a tough test in Group G, which also includes RB Leipzig and BSC Young Boys.
City have had a strong start to the season, remaining undefeated in the Premier League and winning all of their opening five games. They have been dominant in both domestic and international competitions and are looking to continue their success in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s squad has been performing well despite the departure of key players such as Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez. New signings have seamlessly integrated into the team, and there has been no noticeable period of adaptation required.
In terms of injuries, City will be without Jack Grealish, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, and Kevin De Bruyne for the match against Red Star Belgrade. The predicted lineup for City includes Ederson in goal, with Walker, Akanji, Dias, and Ake in defense. Rodri, Silva, Foden, Alvarez, and Doku are expected to feature in midfield, with Haaland leading the attack.
Red Star Belgrade, on the other hand, have had a mixed start to their season, losing two of their previous three games in the Serbian Super Liga. However, they have a full squad available for the match against City and will be looking to put up a strong defensive performance.
One player to watch out for in City‘s lineup is summer signing Jeremy Doku. With Grealish sidelined due to injury, Doku had an impressive performance in City‘s recent win against West Ham United, scoring a goal. This could be the perfect opportunity for the 21-year-old winger to make his Champions League debut with City.
Overall, City are the favorites heading into the match against Red Star Belgrade. However, football is unpredictable, and both teams will be eager to start their Champions League campaign with a positive result.
