MX23RW : Sunday, April 28 13:59:33| >> :60:1554:1554:
[monks data]
Leipzig logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 4, 2023 at 8pm UK
Red Bull Arena
Manchester City logo

RB Leipzig
1 - 3
Man City

Openda (48')
Schlager (72'), Raum (78')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Foden (25'), Alvarez (84'), Doku (90+2')
Akanji (65')

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola confirms Rodri will start against RB Leipzig

Man City boss Guardiola confirms Rodri will start against RB Leipzig
© Reuters
Manchester City's Rodri will start against RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday, before being given time off as he serves the rest of his domestic ban.

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Rodri will start in Manchester City's Champions League encounter with RB Leipzig on Wednesday.

The Man City midfielder has missed their last two games with suspension after being sent off for violent conduct against Nottingham Forest.

Rodri was caught grabbing Morgan Gibbs-White by the neck, which led to Anthony Taylor giving him a straight red card in their league meeting last month.

City hung on to win the game 2-0 despite playing with 10 men, but have struggled in Rodri's absence, losing both games.

The first came in the EFL Cup away to Newcastle United where Guardiola may have rested Rodri anyway, but City were given a huge shock by Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend.

Wolves became the first side to beat City in the Premier League this season, ending the champions' 100% start to the league campaign.

Guardiola utilised all three of his fit central-midfield options over the course of the two games, giving Kalvin Phillips a start at Newcastle, before opting for midfield duo of Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes at Wolves.

The City manager has confirmed that while Rodri will play in Germany on Wednesday, he will be allowed a few days off before linking up with the Spanish national side next week.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola pictured on September 23, 2023© Reuters

That means that the player will not travel or train with the squad ahead of their trip to North London to face Arsenal at the weekend.

The Arsenal game will be the final match in Rodri's three-game suspension, before he will be eligible for selection again in City's clash with Brighton & Hove Albion after the international break.

Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference: "Rodri is going to play the game and after he can take a rest, go to Madrid for four or five days before the national team for the international break. He has to do it."

Rodri was very vocal in his concerns about player welfare earlier in the year, and he played the most minutes of any City outfield player last season.

The 27-year-old is believed to have told the club that he will not be able to play the same amount of minutes this season, especially with the European Championships taking place next summer too.

Rodri starting on Wednesday means that Guardiola will not try to test a system for the Arsenal game when the Spaniard will not be there.

After a shaky opening-day victory over Red Star Belgrade though, Guardiola may want to take no chances and field his strongest side in order to leave Germany with three points.

ID:525630:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3934:No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Rodri

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Game History

How you voted: RB Leipzig vs Man City

RB Leipzig
18.4%
Draw
16.7%
Manchester City
64.9%
282
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City's Rodri reacts after being shown a red card on September 23, 2023
Read Next:
Man City 'will not appeal Rodri red card'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QBayern651016
QCopenhagen62228
3Galatasaray61235
4Man Utd61144

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QArsenal641113
QPSV62319
3Lens62228
4Sevilla60242

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Madrid660018
QNapoli631210
3Braga61144
4Union Berlin60242

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Sociedad633012
QInter Milan633012
3Benfica61144
4Salzburg61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtletico642014
QLazio631210
3Feyenoord62046
4Celtic61144

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QDortmund632111
QPSG62228
3AC Milan62228
4Newcastle61235

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QMan City660018
QRB Leipzig640212
3Young Boys61144
4Red Star60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QBarcelona640212
QPorto640212
3Shakhtar63039
4Antwerp61053


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!