Manchester City XI vs Porto: starting XI, confirmed team news, latest Champions League injury today


Enzo Maresca has made changes to his Manchester City squad as they begin their Champions League campaign away to Porto tonight.

Manchester City maintained their unblemished Premier League record when they beat Coventry last time out, winning 1-0 thanks to a traditional Erling Haaland goal, with manager Enzo Maresca opting for a rotation in Portugal on Tuesday night.

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The match in Coventry revealed a couple of new injury problems. Nico O’Reilly was due to start but pulled out late with a lower back problem during the warm-up and debutant Enzo Fernandez was called up to replace him.

Fellow Deadline Day signee Iliman Ndiaye then received an apparent knockout, joining fellow striker Jeremy Doc on the treatment table.

Manchester City XI vs Porto: starting XI, confirmed team news, latest Champions League injury today

Ilimane Ndiaye hopes to make his Champions League debut on Tuesday night (Pennsylvania)

Maresca has already promised to make changes at the Dragao stadium.

Speaking after the sinking of Coventry, he told reporters: “Today we saw with Ayub [Bouaddi], [Ryan] “McIdoo, Iliman Ndiaye, they haven’t played in the Champions League yet but they need to start, so they’ll start getting minutes in the Champions League on Tuesday.”

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Buaddi will partner Fernandez in central midfield in front of a back four of Josco Guardiola, Marc Guei, Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunez.

O’Reilly will return for Sunday’s derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford, but it remains to be seen exactly when Doku will return.

Maresca has made it clear that Haaland will have to be rotated in and out of the squad in the coming weeks as City compete on four fronts, but the prolific Norwegian will lead the way in Portugal regardless.

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CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunez, Diaz (centre), Guei, Guardiol, Buaddi, Fernandes, Foden, Cherki, Semenyo, Haaland

Spare parts: Bettinelli, Rulli, Anderson, Ndiaye, Kovacic, Ait-Nouri, Reis, Allan, Khusanov, Makaidou, Lewis

Wounded: O’Reilly, Doku

Time and date: 20:00 BST Tuesday 8 September 2026

Venue: Stadium do Dragao, Porto

How to watch: TNT Sport

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