Manchester City have a strong squad to choose from when they take on Young Boys in the Champions League on Wednesday.

With two wins out of two, City can make significant progress toward qualifying for the Champions League knockout rounds if they defeat Young Boys. Pep Guardiola is aiming for back-to-back victories over the Swiss team to maybe secure a last-16 spot at the Etihad the following time out.

Before that, they must defeat Bern, and Guardiola might make adjustments based on the victory over Brighton with the weekend’s derby at United in mind. In addition, Manuel Akanji, who was dismissed last week and is serving a one-game suspension this weekend, will be available after being benched at the weekend along with Ederson, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, and Mateo Kovacic.

LINEUP 1:

Guardiola will want to take this game seriously but will also feel he has to plan for United at the weekend. If he plans to use the experience of Jack Grealish, the former Aston Villa man could do with playing himself into form as quickly as possible.

Dias can come back in after being rested on Saturday and Nathan Ake can come in given Akanji will be suspended for the next match. John Stones will probably come in for the derby but City will be keen not to overload him given he has missed so much of the season through ιnjury.

Kovacic can get a chance to impress alongside the familiar figures of Rodri and Bernardo Silva in midfield as the Croatian looks to reassert his position. Julian Alvarez showed impressive conditioning to be fit for the weekend after his exertions on international duty, but again does need to be looked after.

LINEUP 2:

Ederson, if fit and ready, should come back in, as should Dias ahead of the derby. I’d rest Stones to continue to manage his fitness as United is a more important game than this one. Akanji will be suspended for that game, so he can continue and give others a rest. Ake should replace Josko Gvardiol to keep him fresh as well.

It’s been established that Rodri is undroppable, and City need to win this game, so he continues. As good as Phil Foden was at the weekend, he is another who can be rested for United. Guardiola said Matheus Nunes could have started against Brighton, so he can come in to try and link the аttаck.

Jeremy Doku was electric on Saturday, but Guardiola said he cannot play three games a week. Grealish has struggled for games since Doku’s arrival, but this type of game should suit him – away from home in Europe, where City will want to keep the ball and control from start to finish. Having Bernardo on the opposite flank can help do that, too.

LINEUP 3:

Guardiola has made qualifying from the group as early as possible his top priority in the opening stage of the season so a strong side can be expected for the game in Switzerland but that doesn’t meаn there won’t be changes. Dias should come back into the starting XI to rest Stones but Akanji should start since he’s suspended for the weekend’s derby.

Rico Lewis and Ake can come in at full-back. Rodri will almost certainly start given his importance but the game offers a chance for Kovacic and Nunes to start with him in midfield, with Alvarez being handed a well-deserved rest after his international exploits.

Grealish should come back in on the left but with Doku keeping his place on the right flank to rest Bernardo and Foden. Erling Haaland should continue to start.