Key Changes In Defence: 4-3-3 Manchester City Predicted Lineup vs Schalke Key Changes In Defence: 4-3-3 Manchester City Predicted Lineup vs Schalke An ardent sports lover who loves to sleep, eat and watch Manchester City play. In that order.<doc-sep>Get the biggest City stories, analysis and transfer updates delivered straight to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Manchester City will be looking to confirm their place in the quarter finals of the Champions League on Tuesday when they face off against Schalke in the last-16 second leg. City are 3-2 up after a thrilling first leg in Germany, in which two late goals from Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling gave a City side down to 10 men a dramatic victory. In the last 27 times a team has scored three away goals in the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie all have gone through, so history is in City's favour going into the clash at the Etihad. Nicolas Otamendi will be suspended for the game after he picked up two bookings in Germany, which could see Aymeric Laporte back in the starting line-up after he was an unused substitute in the 3-1 victory over Watford. John Stones was back in training on Monday, though Vincent Kompany, Benjamin Mendy, Kevin de Bruyne and Fernandinho were all absent. Read how our writers have suggested Pep Guardiola should pick his team, and choose your own starting XI at the bottom of the page. Simon Bajkowski Nicolas Otamendi's suspension forces City into a change at the back, and Vincent Kompany could have forced another; there's a chance the captain could be fit for the game but the fact he missed training on Monday suggests that Aymeric Laporte and John Stones may be better off despite their lack of recent game time. Aleks Zinchenko and Kyle Walker have played well enough in recent weeks to keep their place, although if Guardiola wants to go more defensive Danilo could easily slot in on either flank. I'd give Leroy Sane the chance to impress, with Riyad Maherz ready to come on for the latter part of the game and hurt the Schalke defence. Gabriel Jesus is another that could do with minutes but it is hard to see Guardiola looking past his strongest team for a game City simply cannot afford to lose. Daniel Murphy With the shocking comebacks that surprised us all in the Champions League last week, I wouldn't be taking any chances with my team selection here - even with a 3-2 away goal advantage against a Schalke team in crisis. With that in mind I'd be starting as strong a team as possible at the Etihad on Tuesday. Aymeric Laporte returned from injury as an unused substitute in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Watford and in perfect time, too, as he will be able to replace the suspended Nicolas Otamendi in defence. John Stones, who has had his own injury troubles of late, may also have to come in as Vincent Kompany was not in training on Monday. Other than those enforced swaps I wouldn't make any other changes to the side that beat the Hornets. Hat-trick hero Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero both came off with plenty of time to spare so they should be feeling fresh and Riyad Mahrez is starting to pick up form and should stay in the side. With the opportunity to rotate star players on Saturday, as City will face Championship side Swansea City in the FA Cup, there's no reason not to go full strength. Stuart Brennan Getting the balance right in his teams has become a Pep Guardiola speciality - even when they lose it is rarely because he left his team under-cooked. But this game, and Saturday's trip to Swansea will test his powers of judgment. It's tempting to rest one or two key players, but with Fernandinho and Kevin De Bruyne hopefully back after the international break, he is likely to go strong - and that is reinforced by the need to avoid another Champions League shock after the exits of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. READ MORE MAN CITY NEWS John Stones is back in training, and now might be the time to put him and Aymeric Laporte back together again, while Danilo can slot in at right back with no need for alarm. Gabriel Jesus seems to be a no-brainer - Sergio Aguero lacked energy at the weekend and the Brazil striker needs some time on the pitch, and a run-out against a suffering defence would seem opportune.<doc-sep>Manchester City will be without Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Schalke 04. Otamendi was sent off for a second bookable offence in City’s dramatic 3-2 first leg win at Schalke’s Veltins Arena and will serve a one-match European ban. Fernandinho will also serve a one-match ban, though the midfielder picked up a groin injury in Gelsenkirchen which rules him out regardless. Aymeric Laporte has returned to training having recovered from a hamstring injury and could replace Otamendi in the centre of Pep Guardiola’s defence. John Stones, who is a doubt with a groin problem, trained with the first-team squad on Monday but Vincent Kompany was not present. Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Show all 23 1 /23 Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Manchester City vs Schalke 04 The Independent Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Ederson 6 Manchester City Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Kyle Walker 7 Manchester City Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Aymeric Laporte 7 Manchester City Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Danilo 7 Manchester City Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Oleksandr Zinchenko 8 Manchester City Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke David Silva 7 Manchester City Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Ilkay Gundogan 8 Manchester City Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Bernardo Silva 8 Manchester City Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Raheem Sterling 8 Manchester City Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Leroy Sané 9 Manchester City Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Sergio Aguero 8 Reuters Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Ralf Fahrmann 3 Schalke 04 Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Salif Sané 4 Schalke 04 Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Jeffrey Bruma 4 Schalke 04 Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Benjamin Stambouli 4 Schalke 04 Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Bastian Oczipka 4 Schalke 04 Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Nabil Bentaleb 6 Schalke 04 Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Suat Serdar 5 Schalke 04 Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Yevhen Konoplyanka 5 Schalke 04 Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Weston McKennie 5 Schalke 04 Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Breel Embolo 5 Schalke 04 Getty Player ratings from Manchester City vs Schalke Guido Burgstaller 5 Schalke 04 Getty Kevin De Bruyne remains sidelined with a hamstring injury and second-choice goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is a long-term absentee. Schalke are without midfielders Alessandro Schöpf (knee), Omar Mascarell (groin) and Daniel Caligiuri (ankle). Predicted XIs Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko; Bernardo, Gundogan, Silva; Sterling, Jesus, Sané. Schalke 04: Fahrmann; Stambouli, Sané, Nastasic; Mendyl, Bentaleb, Serdar, McKennie; Embolo, Skryzbski; Burgstaller.<doc-sep>Pep Guardiola can say what he wants, the reality is that Manchester City are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and one of the favourites to win it now. After a 3-2 victory in Gelsenkirchen three weeks ago, Guardiola claimed that City ‘weren’t ready’ to fight in the latter stages of the competition. Before Tuesday night’s second leg at the Etihad, he described his team as teenagers in Europe. REPORT: Read the full Champions League match report from the Etihad Stadium Manchester City are in prime position to reach the Champions League quarter-finals when they host Schalke with a one-goal lead in the second leg of their last-16 tie. The Premier League side came from behind to snatch a dramatic late win at the Veltins Arena, and their three away goals leave them with a comfortable cushion heading into the Etihad Stadium meeting. But following results that have already seen Ajax and Manchester United seal incredible first leg comebacks, they will have to be wary of complacency. Follow all the action from the 8pm drama as it happens with Sportsmail's Dan Ripley. If you are using the app, please click here to view today’s live blog<doc-sep>
Schalke 04 will travel to the Etihad Stadium to meet Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Two late goals from Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling broke Schalke hearts as Die Knappen fell to a 3-2 defeat in the first leg, and they will certainly have their work cut out for them if they are to salvage something from this tie. Here's how Domenico Tedesco could line up. 1. Goalkeeper & Defenders Ralf Fahrmann (GK) - Fahrmann has found himself out of the lineup for Schalke's Bundesliga games, but has started the side's recent Champions League matches, and will likely continue that run on Tuesday. Sascha Riether (RWB) - With Daniel Caligiuri ruled out due to injury, the reliable Riether will be brought in to help protect Fahrmann in goal. Jeffrey Bruma (CB) - The Wolfsburg loanee has slotted straight into Schalke's defence, and will need a strong showing to give Die Knappen a chance at victory against City. Salif Sane (CB) - The towering Senegalese international was rested in Friday's 4-2 defeat to Werder Bremen, meaning he should be fit and ready for Tuesday. Matija Nastasic (CB) - As a former City man, Nastasic will be desperate for a strong showing against his old side. Bastian Oczipka (LWB) - Expect to see the versatile 30-year-old charging forward in an attempt to help his side in attack, but he cannot afford to overlook his defensive duties against City's prolific forwards. 2. Midfielders Weston McKennie (RM) - The 20-year-old is widely regarded as one of the USA's most exciting youngsters, and he will be relishing the chance to impress on such a huge stage. Nabil Bentaleb (CM) - After netting two penalties in the first leg, Bentaleb will be looking to create plenty of chances for his teammates as they look to turn this tie around. Suat Serdar (CM) - Serdar will be rested and fit for Tuesday's match after being forced to sit out the side's last Bundesliga match through suspension. Hamza Mendyl (LM) - Mendyl is comfortable as both a winger and a left-back, but will need to combine those duties to keep City at bay on Tuesday. 3. Forward