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

    Why oh why did I play Martinez over Sanchez.

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

      He'll pick up points late on.

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

        8?

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

          Nah.

          Realised afterwards I'm not following his clean sheets.

          But a penalty save is an outside chance.

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

      I have triple Villa.

    3. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah that doesn´t make sense.

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

        Dude, I know you're a troll already. Don't waste your breath.

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

      Why did I get rid for Mendy.

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

      I think I’d still start Martinez knowing the score right now, guy could pop up with a haul outta nowhere

    6. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      One of those keepers who does nothing when I have him, hauls when I sell him, then does nothing when I get him back.

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

    Wow... What a nothing goal again, for FPL.

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

      Plenty have Villa defence.

    2. aborg
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Exactly. Nothing for Gundo, Stones and the likes.

      Gundo owes me big time but when I did not own him he hauled and from when I owned him he brought me even more pain !! What a complete troll !

  3. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Every Man City mid apart from Gundogan getting something!

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

    Bernardo having a Xavi first half

  5. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bilva (whooooooo?) gets another assist

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

      World no.1 loving it

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

    Booooooo

  7. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Another one sided game involving citt

    If only there was a way to make it more competitive

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    That’s a red

  9. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    That's a red card all day.

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

    Stones could be off

  11. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Stones Red?

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

    Stones red

    Surely

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

    Stones in trouble

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

    Stones YC, could be red

  15. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Stones has got to go here

    3 match ban incoming

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

      For a mistimed challenge? No way.

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

    Has to go

  17. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Stones a bit lucky there.

    1. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bit lucky in what why exactly ?

  18. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Nooooo

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

    He has to go

    Shocking tackle

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

    Clear as day, what’s the delay?

  21. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Not exactly great minutes for me as a Stones and Martinez owner.

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

    Martinez, Azpi, Shaw, Dawson, Sterling and Salah all combining for a whopping 0 points!

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

    Stones gone

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

    Stones off

  25. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Stones red

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

    Stones RC lol

  27. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Yes !!! stones red

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

    Get innnnmmm

    What a half for pebbles 😆

  29. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    RED

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      16.5% of teams

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

    Fortunately I was selling Stones this GW anyway.