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Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Manchester City could line up Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first-leg clash with RB Leipzig.

Manchester City will be without three players for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against RB Leipzig in Germany on Wednesday night.

John Stones has missed City's last four matches across all competitions since sustaining a hamstring injury in the FA Cup fourth-round win over Arsenal on January 27; Pep Guardiola revealed last week that the defender is "getting better" but he is not expected to return until next month.

Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte have not been included in City's 22-man travelling squad to Germany due to illness, as confirmed by Guardiola at a press conference on Tuesday.

Considering City's busy fixture schedule, Guardiola may be tempted to tinker with his starting lineup following last weekend's disappointing 1-1 draw away at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and Rico Lewis will all be hoping for a recall in defence at the expense of Laporte, Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker – the latter of whom was sent off away against Leipzig in a 2-1 group-stage defeat last season – while Bernardo Silva could continue in his makeshift left-back role, pushing back up into midfield when City are in possession.

Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan are expected to continue in the middle of the pitch, while the absence of De Bruyne could see either Phil Foden or Kalvin Phillips handed a start in a central role, the latter of whom is pushing to start just his second match for the Citizens since joining the club last summer.

Riyad Mahrez was an unused substitute against Forest, but the Algerian winger could return to the first XI on the right flank, while Jack Grealish, who has started each of City's last seven matches in all tournaments, is expected to continue on the opposite side.

Top scorer Erling Braut Haaland, who found the net five times in four Champions League group-stage games earlier this season, is poised to retain his place in attack ahead of Julian Alvarez.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake; Rodri, Bernardo; Mahrez, Gundogan, Foden, Grealish; Haaland

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