Erling Haaland to start, Carlos Borges to feature – Predicted XI: Manchester City vs Girona (Friendly)

Manchester City take on fellow City Football Group side Girona in a mid-season friendly, ahead of the return of competitive club football next week.

The clash between the two CFG-owned clubs will provide both sets of players with the perfect opportunity to further develop their respective fitness levels ahead of the return of competitive action, with Manchester City taking on Liverpool next week.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will travel to the Etihad Stadium next Thursday, in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, as the Premier League giants go head-to-head with progression in the cup at stake.

This weekend, Manchester City will have a number of their first-team stars unavailable, as staggered returns from the FIFA World Cup and granted holidays mean some players are further ahead than others in terms of match sharpness.

The likes of Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez have been training as normal with Pep Guardiola and the first-team squad for a number of days, following their failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Kevin De Bruyne is the most recent World Cup attendee to return to first-team training with Manchester City, featuring at the City Football Academy for the first time on Tuesday afternoon.

Ahead of the clash against Girona on Saturday afternoon, here is how City Xtra expect Pep Guardiola to line-up his Premier League champions at the Academy Stadium!

Predicted XI:

With Ederson being granted time away from action following his work with Brazil in Qatar, Stefan Ortega is likely to start in goal for Manchester City this weekend.

Rico Lewis is also likely to earn another start at right-back, and will be eager to build on the fine form he had shown with the first-team prior to the World Cup break last month.

With Pep Guardiola’s senior central defenders resting following their international commitments, rare starts for academy duo Finley Burns and Jadel Katongo could be seen against Girona at the heart of a back four this weekend.

Sergio Gomez is almost certain to start at left-back given his omission from the Spain senior international squad for the World Cup, however Josh Wilson-Esbrand is also in contention.

Cole Palmer is likely to be handed a start in a three-man midfield, alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Oscar Bobb – who could be trialled in the attacking midfield areas of the pitch.

Manchester City fans will be hoping to see Carlos Borges earn his first start under Pep Guardiola, as part of a front-three that is almost certain to feature Riyad Mahrez and Erling Haaland.

Starting XI: Ortega; Lewis, Burns, Katongo, Gomez; De Bruyne, Palmer, Bobb; Mahrez, Haaland, Borges.

Substitutes: Carson, Van Sas, Charles, Galvez, Wilson-Esbrand, Breckin, O’Reilly, Robertson, Rogers, Dickson.