Manchester City vs Villarreal: Champions League Preview
- Lewis Walkden
- Oct 21
- 2 min read
Manchester City vs Villarreal: Revisiting a Decade-Old European Encounter
Manchester City’s Champions League clash against Villarreal marks the renewal of a fixture not seen since the 2011/12 campaign. Back then, Roberto Mancini’s City triumphed home and away, with a 2-1 victory at the Etihad followed by a commanding 3-0 win at the old El Madrigal.
In terms of their recent form in the competition, Villarreal's showed their resilience in their last game in a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Juventus - A result salvaged by a Renato Veiga 90th-minute equaliser.
Predicted Lineup and Tactical Outlook
City’s preparations for this fixture have been tempered by fitness concerns, with Abdukodir Khusanov and Rodri both absent from training ahead of the trip to Spain. Despite his absence, Rodri has still travelled with the squad, showing how key his role is within the team both on and off the field. Khusanov’s absence leaves a void at right-back that could see Matheus Nunes or Rico Lewis fill in once more.
All eyes have been on Nico O’Reilly as of recent, whose rise from academy prodigy to first-team regular has been hard-fought and simply impressive. Although the youngster has been brilliant as of lately, there have been speculations that he took a minor knock during the victory against Everton. Taking this into consideration, Guardiola may decide to rest him for the forthcoming away match against Aston Villa. In that scenario, Rico Lewis or Matheus Nunes may start at right-back.
On another note, Rayan Cherki’s late cameo against Everton caught the eye. Despite limited minutes, his confidence on the ball was an encouraging sign after his injury. If Guardiola opts for rotation, Cherki could be introduced in place of Bernardo Silva, particularly if City need an injection of creativity in the final third.
Meanwhile, Rodri’s continued absence opens the door for Nico González to occupy a central role in City’s build-up once more. It’s a crucial opportunity for the Spaniard to secure a place in City's XI.
