Manchester City continue their UEFA Champions League campaign on the road, as they face Villareal at the Estadi de la Ceramica.
The Blues have picked up four points from their opening two games, with a win against Napoli at the Etihad Stadium and a 2-2 draw away to Monaco last time out.
This will be the first of two visits to Spain for the Blues in their league phase campaign, with the next coming at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
Here are five things to look out for as City travel to Villarreal:
Gvardiol coming back into the team
After being rested against Everton, we can expect Josko Gvardiol to come back into the team tonight.
The Croatian defender was rested after having recently returned from injury, off the back of a season with over 3000 minutes played (more than Rodri the year before he tore his ACL.)
Gvardiol’s minutes are being managed wisely but I expect him to be able to start the next two games against Villarreal and Aston Villa, before being rested against Swansea City next week in the Carabao Cup.
Bernardo starting next to Nico in midfield
It’s a tough away ground that City will be playing at, and I expect to see Bernardo Silva play in central midfield, slightly ahead of Nico Gonzalez.
Nico, Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden have been starting together in recent matches, but Bernardo replaced Reijnders in the second half against Everton and had a better game than the Dutch international.
I expect Foden to get the edge to start as the ten, though another possibility would be to see Reijnders as a ten and Foden off the right, particularly if Matheus Nunes starts at right backs and overlaps.
But when it comes to the double pivot in possession, I’m fairly confident that Pep Guardiola will go for the experience and composure of Bernardo alongside Nico.
Villarreal’s threats
Villarreal will know that they can’t play City at their own game, but the pace and threat from the wings can certainly cause them a problem.
Manor Solomon and Nicolas Pepe, as well as former Leicester City and Newcastle United player Ayoze Perez, have all featured in the Premier League before and will know how to get at City.
Marcelino’s side have started the season well in third place in La Liga, and with the goals spread very well across the team they have numerous different ways in which they can hurt the Blues.
Haaland’s goals
City’s number nine, who’s scored in twelve consecutive games including two hat tricks and four braces for club and country, will be expecting to score tonight.
Erling Haaland has been going blow for blow with Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe this season by scoring in almost every game, to the point where he more or less guarantees goals.
He’ll be disappointed in himself if he doesn’t score (he was gutted when he didn’t score a third against Everton) and given City’s reliance on him for goals recently, his output will be sorely needed.
A win in a tough atmosphere
Villarreal have a passionate local fanbase who can create an excellent home atmosphere, which makes their board’s decision to agree to take part in a game against Barcelona in the USA even more baffling.
But that’s beside the point; City will be facing them under their own lights, and it won’t be easy against one of the best teams in Spain so far this season.
But I expect City, who have looked a completely different outfit since the September international break, to come in full of swagger and confidence and get a vital three points in the Champions League group phase.
