Dugout Discussion

Gundogan back in City starting XI as Guardiola names strong side for Villa

After weeks of starting XI rotation around cup competitions home and abroad, Manchester City are back at something approaching full strength this evening.

The champions-elect take on Aston Villa in their delayed Gameweek 32 fixture, with kick-off in the Midlands at 20:15 BST.

Ilkay Gundogan has embodied that week-to-week uncertainty, having been benched in three successive league matches between Gameweeks 28 and 31.

The German is back in a Premier League starting XI this evening, along with Ruben Dias and a number of other high-profile, well-owned City assets.

Pep Guardiola has reacted to Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea by making eight alterations, although the likelihood is that he would have rung most of those changes anyway.

Gundogan, Ederson, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden return to the team after benchings at Wembley.

Ruben Dias, Rodri and Gabriel Jesus are the only survivors from the side that started the last match.

Kevin De Bruyne is not involved after limping off with an ankle injury on Saturday, with Sergio Aguero also absent once again.

The Villa team news is more straightforward, with Dean Smith making only one change to his starting XI.

It’s an enforced one, too, with Trezeguet out for the season after knee surgery and replaced by teenage midfielder Jacob Ramsey.

This is the youngster’s first league start at Villa Park.

Jack Grealish is once again absent with a shin injury.


Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Nakamba, Luiz, Traore, McGinn, Ramsey, Watkins.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, Silva, Rodri, Gundogan, Mahrez, Jesus, Foden.

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

659 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thats what u would have seen in Super league week in week out

    Cmon city

  2. Party time
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Late to the party but thank you Sonny

    • @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Underrated finish, weak foot, half volley, defenders on the line. sterling wouldn't even strike it well on his favoured foot let alone score

      • tbos83
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        The PL app isn't updating scores properly

      • DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Foden amazing.

      • djman102
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        City fan, Martinez owner. Another City goal and 8 more Martinez saves too much to ask for?

      • Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Will Foden be essential next season?

        1. JBG
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Most likely.

        2. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Not at ~9m.

        3. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          No, too much rotation and price will increase

        4. Freshy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          8-9 million

        5. Collie01
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Will be very interesting to see his price.

        6. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Hopefully they price Foden and Mahrez both at 8.0m. And have Firmino, Jota, Lacazette (assuming they are still at the clubs) at a similar price.

          1. Tango74
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            I wonder who the premium first picks will be?
            Yours ?

      • Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Nooooooooo Martinez clean sheet gone

        1. DannyDrinkVodka
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Still a lot better than zero points from Mendy and Forster

          1. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            I have Forster on BB for a total bench score of 1 lol

          2. ZAMUNDA
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Same

        2. FPL_Hazards
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Were you really expecting a clean sheet lol

          1. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Yes, after the week I’ve had lol

        3. OLD Rafiki
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Really? this is city.

      • OLD Rafiki
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        late but WATKINS assist GET IN MA BOY.

      • EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        If only Foden was nailed.

        1. Duke Silver ☑
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          If only was nailed.

      • Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Week from hell

        1. JONALDINHO
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          You’ve over 16 pts more than me so what does that make my week?

      • Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Villa completely penned back in their own half.

        Could be a VAR pen check here

        1. Collie01
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Check complete, correctly no pen.

      • ZAMUNDA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Even tho Foden hasn't been nailed but I've had him in my team for weeks. You gotta love how explosive and versatile the guy is.

        1. Konstaapeli
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Same. But it had been horrible few weeks.

          1. ZAMUNDA
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            I've got him during the man city double gws period. But enough with man city assets in general

      • Justin Credibles
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Wolves or Leicester defender for the next few weeks? 5.5 to spend

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Get Dunk

          1. Justin Credibles
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Why?

      • Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        them side netters always fake me out

      • jonnybhoy
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Meslier or Kaspier?

        1. Eh, just one more thing ...
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Messier for me.

      • Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        My bench has been absolutely useless this season

      • Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        For what it's worth, I haven't seen Gundogan bombing forward or making many runs into the box like he was when he was scoring lots of goals earlier in the season. Seems almost more in double pivot role with Rodri.

        1. JBG
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yeah.. So annoying.

      • EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Gundogan not getting into the box as often.

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          he doesn't care now, they are champions already

      • Plagued by indecision
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I have a Mendy / Forster combo. Ditch one? I have 2 FTs

        1. Eh, just one more thing ...
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yes .... wait till Friday for news but many think Mendy will start next match. I think I’ll prob move Mendy on anyway ...

          1. Plagued by indecision
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Who are you getting? I only just got Mendy. Very frustrating.

      • FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Come on Martinez, save a penalty and punish Mendy owners.

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Would do some incredible things for a penalty save and 3 BAPs

      • FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        How were Son and Bale looking? Didn't watch the game

      • JBG
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Only 2 CS this GW, in total.

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Three

          1. JBG
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Yeah sorry, counted Che - Brighton as one. Still though.

        2. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Brighton, Chelsea, Wolves

      • Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        FK for City in dangerous position.

        1. Collie01
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Mahrez high and wide.

      • FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Luckily I benched Cancelo and played Rudiger. It was a super touch call.

      • DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Wow foden on fire tonight.

      • Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Foden is so good. Surely starts for England at the Euros.

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          CM: Henderson, Saka
          DM: Rice, Phillips
          AM: Mount, Maddison
          LW: Grealish, Rashford
          RW: Foden, Sancho
          FW: Kane, ????? (DCL, Bamford, Ings, Watkins all in with a shout)

          The reason for taking Saka, Mount, Rashford over others is they are good, but they also have flexibility to fill in if there are injuries elsewhere.

      • _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Rodrigoal

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          SILVA assist

      • AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        1-2 Manchester City

      • Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        To be fair to Foden

        The kid is insanely talented - big future if he develops properly and doesn’t put his feet up & live off the hype

        1. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Don't think he's that type of lad. Great talent.