Manchester Metropolis are in European motion this night as they put together to tackle Italian giants Inter at The Etihad of their first Champions League match of the season.

The Cityzens are taking part in within the new-look Champions League group section for the primary time and their first conflict is a rematch of the 2023 ultimate, which they gained.

Rodri scored the one aim of the sport as Pep Guardiola‘s facet secured the treble and their first trophy within the competitors within the membership’s historical past.

Metropolis come into this match off the again 4 wins from 4 video games within the Premier League, with the newest being a 2-1 win over Brentford at The Etihad on Saturday.

Yoane Wissa gave the away facet an early lead within the opening minute earlier than a brace from famous person centre-forward Erling Haaland sealed all three factors for the Cityzens.

Guardiola should now choose an XI to take to the sector towards Inter this night and the Spanish head coach may make just a few modifications from the group that confronted the Bees, to offer his facet the very best probability of selecting up all three factors.

Rodri needs to be unleashed

The primary change that needs to be made to the group is that defensive midfielder Rodri needs to be introduced again in to switch Mateo Kovacic in the course of the park.

Guardiola chosen Kovacic from the beginning towards Brentford however determined to carry the Spain worldwide on for him at half-time and that call was rewarded with an improved show from the Metropolis large within the second half.

As you possibly can see within the desk above, Rodri outperformed the Croatia worldwide within the second half with extra passes, extra probabilities created, extra lengthy passes, extra tackles, and extra duels gained, regardless of taking part in the identical variety of minutes.

The Spanish titan, who scored the winner towards tonight’s opponents within the 2023 ultimate, had been lacking with a hamstring damage earlier than making his first look of the season towards Brentford.

Rodri offers defensive stability and elegant high quality in possession, offering 9 assists and finishing 92% of his tried passes within the Premier League final time period, and should now be unleashed from the beginning towards Inter this night.

Together with the transfer to begin the European Championship winner, Guardiola also needs to make a change on the coronary heart of his defence to take John Stones out and unleash Ruben Dias from the beginning.

Why John Stones needs to be dropped

The England worldwide made his first begin of the season for Metropolis within the 2-1 win over Brentford on Saturday and endured a tough afternoon at The Etihad.

It was a nightmare begin for the Cityzens veteran as he didn’t clear the ball when it got here his approach within the six-yard field, albeit with Ederson not overlaying himself in glory both, and that allowed Wissa to attain from shut vary.

That went down as an error that led to a aim on Sofascore and you need to go all the best way again to the 2020/21 Premier League season to seek out his final error that led to a aim within the division, which speaks to his high quality and persistently over the past 4 years or so.

The 30-year-old defender performed 84 minutes towards Brentford and didn’t win a single duel, shedding his solely battle, and didn’t make a single block, deal with, or interception, to forestall Ederson from being labored.

Thomas Frank’s facet ended the match with six pictures on track, one in every of which was Wissa’s aim, and one ‘massive probability’ created, which reveals that Metropolis allowed the away facet to check their goalkeeper far too usually.

Due to this fact, Guardiola should ruthlessly ditch Stones from the beginning XI after his dismal exhibiting towards the Bees, with a sterner take a look at towards Inter, who gained the Serie A by 19 factors final season, to return this night.

This may then open up a spot alongside Manuel Akanji for Dias to be restored into the beginning line-up to offer extra defensive stability on the again.

Why Ruben Dias needs to be unleashed

The £180k-per-week star needs to be unleashed as a result of he’s a strong centre-back who places his physique on the road for the group, while additionally being progressive in possession.

Over the past twelve months, Dias ranks inside the highest 6% of his positional friends within the Males’s Huge 5 Leagues and European competitions for progressive passes per 90 (5.94) and the highest 8% for progressive carries per 90 (1.32).

This reveals that the Portuguese titan continually appears to carry the ball ahead to seek out teammates in superior positions, whether or not that’s by passes or carries, to construct assaults for Metropolis.

The 27-year-old titan, who was as soon as hailed as a “man-mountain” by ex-Metropolis ace Michael Ball, can be a dominant defender who has persistently impressed within the Champions League through the years, reaching two finals in 4 seasons on the membership.

As you possibly can see within the desk above, Dias has persistently dominated opposition gamers within the Champions League all through his profession at Metropolis, notably within the final two campaigns.

The clips above, from his efficiency towards PSG within the semi-finals of the 2020/21 season, spotlight his defensive attributes, as he excels at blocking pictures and being in the fitting place on the proper time to make key clearances.

Dias steps up within the massive video games, successful ten of his 16 duels towards Inter within the ultimate in 2023, and that’s the reason he’s the right option to step in and begin within the opening match of the Champions League marketing campaign towards the Italian giants tonight.

Guardiola should now brutally ditch Stones, after his error on the weekend, and unleash the previous Benfica large from the beginning alongside Rodri.