Shakhtar Donetsk (H) - CL - Pre-Match Thread

[Shirley]

Think Pep plays strongest team and rests players against Newcastle, if needed. I think winning the group and getting the Group Stage behind him is his priority. If we can’t beat Newcastle at home with the squad, then we don’t deserve to be in contention of the League!

The Newcastle game is early ko away at St James Park.
Won't be easy.

 

[SWPISHOME]

Ederson

Cancelo
Garcia
Otamendi
Angelino

Gundogan
Foden
David Silva

Mahrez
Bernardo
Jesus

No point risking players when there is simply no need to, Our injury list is bad enough as it is. Wish he'd field a team of kids to be honest.

 

[wattle]

Looking at the tables, with all the English teams likely to go through, there’s not a lot of difference to who we will get in round 2 finishing top or second. There’s a 75% chance that we’ll get one of A Madrid, R Madrid or Dortmund if we finish top.

 

[richards30]

ederson
cancelo
stones
otamendi
angelino
fernandinho
de bruyne
foden
bernardo silva
sterling
jesus

 

[vmsuhail]

Looking at the tables, with all the English teams likely to go through, there’s not a lot of difference to who we will get in round 2 finishing top or second. There’s a 75% chance that we’ll get one of A Madrid, R Madrid or Dortmund if we finish top.

And if we finish second, the respective teams from the above groups are Juventus, PSG and Barcelona. Add Bayern into the mix and it's a lot tougher.

 

[mosssideblue]

Think Pep plays strongest team and rests players against Newcastle, if needed. I think winning the group and getting the Group Stage behind him is his priority. If we can’t beat Newcastle at home with the squad, then we don’t deserve to be in contention of the League!

We are not at home bud

 

[@BluePhil8]

Can't risk any injury to De Bruyne, Stones or Fernandinho.

Would like to see Foden start, Jesus will need the minutes but I'm worried he could pick up an injury. Hope he picks a good blend of youth and experience.

 

[cleavers]

With the small number of away fans in the ground and the rest of the away section going on sale to home fans, this could be close to the biggest number of City fans we’ve ever had for a home European game.

If they all turn up ;-) Quite surprising though.

 

[MAG]

Looking at the tables, with all the English teams likely to go through, there’s not a lot of difference to who we will get in round 2 finishing top or second. There’s a 75% chance that we’ll get one of A Madrid, R Madrid or Dortmund if we finish top.

And if we finish second, the respective teams from the above groups are Juventus, PSG and Barcelona. Add Bayern into the mix and it's a lot tougher.

Plus the biggest advantage of finishing top is you have that second leg at home instead of away in the next round ...

 

[M18CTID]

If they all turn up ;-) Quite surprising though.

True! Tends to be less empties for sold out cup games than league games though as people have had to specifically buy a ticket for the cup games, whereas for league games the majority of seats are season ticket holders and some pick and choose their games