Erling Haaland was named among Manchester City s substitutes for Tuesday s Champions League tie against Copenhagen in a rare rest for the prolific striker ahead of next weekend s showdown with Liverpool.
The Norway international had started all 13 of City s matches since joining from Borussia Dortmund in the close season, scoring a remarkable 20 goals and breaking a number of records along the way.
However, Pep Guardiola left Haaland out of his starting line-up to face Copenhagen as one of five changes from the 4-0 win over Southampton at the weekend.
Julian Alvarez was brought into the side to lead the attack – just his third start of the season – while Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Gomez, Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish were also recalled.
Team News
XI | Ederson, Cancelo, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Carson, Dias, Ake, Haaland, Bernardo, Foden, Palmer, Lewis, Wilson-Esbrand
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva joined Haaland in dropping to the bench at the Parken Stadium, with City operating in a 4-3-3 formation.
City entered the match in the Danish capital knowing a fourth win out of four in Group G would send them through to the knockout phase with two matches to spare.
Guardiola s men turn focus back to Premier League matters on Sunday with a trip to out-of-form Liverpool, who have been their perennial rivals for the title over the past four years.
Copenhagen XI: Grabara; Lund, Khocholava, Boilesen; Jelert, Stamenic, Lerager, Kristiansen; Claesson, Haraldsson, Daramy.
Subs: Johnsson, Ryan, Diks, Sorensen, Johanneson, Mukairu, Ankersen, Clem, Roony.
Manchester City XI: Ederson; Cancelo, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez; Rodrigo, Gundogan (c), De Bruyne; Mahrez, Grealish, Alvarez.
Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Dias, Ake, Haaland, Silva, Foden, Palmer, Lewis, Wilson-Esbrand.
