Manchester City's Bold Line-Up for Champions League Opener

Enzo Maresca has rolled the dice for Manchester City’s Champions League opener, naming a bold, reshaped XI for the trip to Porto on Tuesday night.

At the Estadio do Dragao, under the lights and the noise, the Italian coach has made three changes from the side that beat Coventry last Saturday. The headline is clear.

Ayoub Bouaddi.

The young Moroccan is handed his first start for City, trusted from the off on one of European football’s most demanding stages. He comes in for Elliot Anderson, who drops to the bench, as Maresca leans into youth and energy for the first game of the new league phase of the UEFA Champions League.

The shake-up doesn’t stop there. Phil Foden returns to the line-up, preferred ahead of Iliman Ndiaye, who also makes way and starts among the substitutes. On the right side of defence, Matheus Nunes is restored to the starting team, replacing Abdukodir Khusanov.

In the middle of the pitch, Enzo Fernandez continues at the heart of City’s structure. The midfielder, signed for a record £125 million from Chelsea, starts his second consecutive match as Maresca wastes no time building his team around the Argentine’s passing range and control. New signing Alan has to wait, named on the bench for this one.

With Erling Haaland leading the line and creativity packed in behind him, City’s XI carries a clear attacking intent.

Manchester City starting line-up:

• Donnarumma
• Nunes
• Dias
• Gvardiol
• Bouaddi
• Enzo
• Cherki
• Foden
• Haaland
• Semenyo

On the other side, Porto answer with a side built for resistance and quick transitions, determined to turn their home ground into a fortress once again.

Porto starting line-up:

• Costa
• Varela
• Perez
• Kivor
• Alberto Costa
• Rosario
• Fernandez
• Vega
• Gomes
• Silva
• Pepe

New faces, big prices, and a fearless debutant in Bouaddi. For Maresca and City, the Champions League campaign begins with a statement: no easing in, no gentle start — straight into the fire at the Dragao.