Porto vs. Man City confirmed lineups: Anderson, Ndiaye benched as Maresca makes three changes for Champions League clash

By Oliver Thomas | 08 Sep 2026 18:52, Last updated: 08 Sep 2026 19:13

Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye person been near retired of Manchester City’s starting lineup for tonight’s Champions League opener against Porto astatine Estadio bash Dragao.

The brace of summertime signings some started successful the Citizens' 1-0 Premier League triumph implicit Coventry past Saturday, with Anderson producing a man-of-the-match display, but some players volition statesman connected the substitutes' seat against Porto.

Abdukodir Khusanov has besides reverted to the bench, with Matheus Nunes, Phil Foden and Ayyoub Bouaddi each handed starts arsenic manager Enzo Maresca makes a full of 3 changes to his archetypal XI.

Eighteen-year-old summertime signing Bouaddi volition marque his afloat debut for Man City and is expected to instrumentality Anderson's spot successful centre-midfield alongside club-record accomplishment Enzo Fernandez.

After recovering from an ankle issue, Nunes volition commencement his archetypal crippled of the caller play astatine right-back, joining skipper Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol successful a four-man defence protecting goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The instrumentality of Foden to the starting lineup is acceptable to spot him statesman connected the close broadside of attack, with Antoine Semenyo moving implicit the the near arsenic Rayan Cherki continues successful the fig 10 relation down striker Erling Haaland, who has scored 3 goals successful his past 2 appearances.

Meanwhile, caller enlistee Allan has been selected successful Man City's matchday squad for the archetypal clip since joining from Palmeiras and the winger is successful contention to marque his debut arsenic a substitute.

Perez, Fernandes, Varela each instrumentality to Porto XI for Man City clash

As for Porto, caput manager Francesco Farioli has besides made 3 changes to his starting lineup pursuing past Friday’s 2-1 triumph implicit Moreirense successful the Primera Liga.

Jan Bednarek scored successful that match, but the ex-Southampton defender is suspended this evening and has been replaced by Nehuen Perez, who volition spouse Jakub Kiwior astatine centre-back.

While Alberto Costa retains his starting spot astatine right-back, Francisco Moura has been replaced astatine left-back by Martim Fernandes.

Victor Froholdt is the last alteration made by Farioli, with Alan Varela taking his spot to nexus arms with Rosario and Gabri Veiga successful a three-man midfield.

William Gomes, Andre Silva, Pepe each proceed successful attack, though, with Santiago Gimenez and Borja Sainz among those providing screen connected the substitutes’ bench.

Porto starting lineup: D. Costa; A. Costa, Perez, Kiwior, Fernandes; Rosario, Varela, Veiga; Gomes, A. Silva, Pepe

Subs: Ramos, J. Costa, Hwang, Sainz, Gimenez, Souza, Fofana, Cunha, T. Silva, L. Gomes, Moura, Teixeira

Manchester City starting lineup: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Bouaddi, Fernandez; Foden, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland

Subs: Bettinelli, Rulli, Anderson, Ndiaye, Kovacic, Ait-Nouri, Reis, Allan, Khusanov, McAidoo, Lewis