Just how good are Manchester City this season? Perhaps we will find out in some ways tonight. They have the daunting task of taking on Bayern Munich in an epic Champions League encounter at the Etihad Stadium tonight knowing they need a victory to secure progression to the knock-out stages and even if they do win... they are counting on Villareal avoiding defeat against Napoli. That's how much of a hole they have dug themselves into this season. One advantage they have tonight is that Bayern Munich have already progressed as group winners and coach Jupp Heynckes could rest some players tonight as they have nothing to play for. Former Chelsea winger and star Arjen Robben won't play as he is suffering from the flu, as is midfielder Toni Kroos. Strikers Mario Gomez and Thomas Miller seem to have recovered from their illness.
Team News
Defender Micah Richards is a doubt with a slight calf injury. Pablo Zabaleta has recovered from his knock taken from the Carling Cup tie at Arsenal and is expected to be his replacement. Alexander Kolarov is out for three weeks with a groin injury and Gael Clichy is likely to continue at left-back. Outside of Carlos Tevez's ongoing issue, they have a full strength side.
Line-ups from;
Man City squad (from): Hart, Pantilimon, Richards, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, K Toure, Savic, Clichy, Milner, Johnson, Barry, Nasri, De Jong, Y Toure, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero, Balotelli.