Manchester City’s first Champions League Group G match of the year is against Red Star Belgrade.
Tuesday’s home match against Serbian Champions Crvena Zvezda marks the start of Manchester City’s Champions League defense.
Last season, City finally won the Champions League, and a month later, they triumphed in the Super Cup in Athens. With Red Star, RB Leipzig, and Young Boys in their group, the newly crowned Champions of Europe have aspirations to defend the crown they have worked so hard to obtain.
For the Group G opening, Pep Guardiola will be missing Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones, and Mateo Kovacic and Jack Grealish’s ailments have not healed in time for them to play. After a superb showing against West Ham at the weekend, Jeremy Doku might stay on the left.
Following his two assists against West Ham, Guardiola referred to Julian Alvarez as “almost undroppable,” but he has also praised Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva for their recent displays.
