Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is named in Manchester City's starting lineup for this evening's Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.

The Citizens were given an injury scare when their Norwegian No.9 fell to the ground holding his shin in Monday's training session, but Pep Guardiola dismissed any fears over the striker's fitness at a press conference later that evening.

Haaland has since been deemed fit to start at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, as Man City make a total of three changes to the side that suffered a 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend.

Tonight is a special night for Jahmai Simpson-Pusey - who celebrated his 19th birthday yesterday - as he has been handed his first senior start by Guardiola and is set to play alongside Manuel Akanji at the heart of defence, protecting goalkeeper Ederson.

Nathan Ake has made way for Simpson-Pusey, while Rico Lewis has been recalled at the expense of Kyle Walker to play at right-back as Josko Gvardiol continues on the left side of a four-man defence.

The other change made by Guardiola sees Savinho replace Ilkay Gundogan, and the Brazilian is expected to play on the right flank, with ex-Sporting man Matheus Nunes operating on the left once again, while tonight's City captain Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden all start in midfield as Haaland leads the line.

© Imago

In-form striker Gyokeres leads line for Amorim's Sporting

As for Sporting, soon-to-be Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has made just two changes to the side that thrashed Estrela 5-1 in the Primeira Liga last Friday.

Goncalo Inacio has been replaced by Matheus Reis who will start alongside Ousmane Diomande and Zeno Debast in the back three, while Hidemasa Morita comes in for Daniel Braganca and will start in centre-midfield next to Morten Hjulmand.

Sporting talisman Viktor Gyokeres, labelled one of the 'hottest strikers in Europe' after scoring four goals against Estrela last time out to take his goal tally for the season to 20 in just 16 games, leads the line, with support to be provided in attack by Francisco Trincao and Pedro Goncalves.

Manchester City starting lineup: Ederson; Lewis, Simpson-Pusey, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Bernardo; Savinho, Foden, Nunes; Haaland

Subs: Ortega, Carson, Walker, Ake, Doku, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Wright, O'Reilly, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand

Sporting Lisbon starting lineup: Israel; Debast, Diomande, Reis; Quenda, Hjulmand, Morita, Araujo; Trincao, Gyokeres, Goncalves

Subs: Kovacevic, Pinto, St. Juste, Edwards, Harder, Catamo, Fresneda, Braganca, Esgaio, Simoes, Quaresma

Written by
Oliver Thomas