Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb to start – Predicted XI: Urawa Red Diamonds vs Manchester City (FIFA Club World Cup)

Manchester City face Urawa Red Diamonds in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals on Tuesday, as Pep Guardiola’s side bid to become World Champions.

Manchester City face the Japanese side in Jeddah on Tuesday, with the Sky Blues competing in the Club World Cup for the first time, after qualifying for the tournament in June with a maiden UEFA Champions League win.

Pep Guardiola’s side can win their fifth trophy of the calendar year with a FIFA Club World Cup victory, having already lifted the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Emirates FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 2023.

Manchester City’s latest Premier League title bid has recently stalled, with the Blues collapsing to a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium to drop points for a fifth time in six matches on Saturday afternoon.

Pep Guardiola’s squad were faultless in Europe however, winning all six matches during their UEFA Champions League Group Stage campaign, including a 3-2 win in Belgrade last Wednesday.

Ahead of matchday and kick-off at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, here is how we believe Pep Guardiola will line-up his side against Urawa Red Diamonds in Jeddah.

Predicted XI

After featuring in successive UEFA Champions League matches against RB Leipzig and Red Star Belgrade, one expects to see Stefan Ortega replace Ederson between the sticks for Tuesday’s Club World Cup semi-final.

Having scored his first Premier League goal at the weekend as a midfielder, Rico Lewis looks set to retain his place for the Blues in midweek, but drops back to his usual right-back position, as Kyle Walker is rested.

Sergio Gomez, who has been linked with a potential January exit, will likely start at left-back, with the Spain Under-21 international having also started last week’s 3-2 win in the Serbian capital.

Manchester City’s central defence will be occupied by John Stones and Manuel Akanji, with both Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake dropping to the bench after the weekend’s surprise draw against Crystal Palace.

A midfield trio of Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Bernardo Silva seem set to take on the Japanese outfit in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, as Manchester City bid to reach the Club World Cup Final.

Jack Grealish will look to continue his current goalscoring form against Urawa Red Diamonds, meanwhile Phil Foden will bid to make amends for conceding a late penalty against Palace.

Oscar Bobb, who scored in the Champions League for Manchester City last week, will act as the central forward, as Julian Alvarez is rested and Erling Haaland continues to recover from injury.

Predicted XI: Ortega Moreno; Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gomez; Kovacic, Nunes, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Bobb.

Substitutes: Ederson, Carson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Phillips, Susoho, Rodri, De Bruyne, Hamilton, Alvarez.