OFFICIAL MAN CITY XI VS SCHALKE 04

Leroy Sane, Danilo and Aymeric Laporte are recalled to the starting XI versus Schalke as pep Guardiola makes three changes to the side that beat Watford at the weekend. 

Vincent Kompany didn’t train yesterday and isn’t in the matchday squad this evening and Nicolas Otamendi is suspended.

Laporte and Danilo will form the central defensive pairing while Sane replaces Riyad Mahrez.

READ: Which TV channel is City v Schalke on?

LIVE: City v Schalke Matchday Centre

City starting XI and bench:

Ederson, Walker, Zinchenko, Danilo, Laporte, Gundogan, D Silva (c), Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero, Sane

Subs: Muric, Delph, Stones, Mahrez, G Jesus, Foden, Humphreys

Formation: 4-3-3

Danilo looks set to play as a centre-half with Kompany out and Otamendi suspended.

John Stones and Cameron Humphreys are also on the bench as back-up.

Otherwise, it’s as you were formation-wise with Sane selected ahead of Mahrez on the left flank.

DANILO: Versatile...

DANILO: Versatile...

Schalke XI:

To follow…

Champions League opportunity

City know there is work to be done this evening and no thoughts of the quarter-finals will be entertained until progression is assured.

But if the Blues do progress, the absence of Real Madrid, Paris St Germain and one of either Atletico Madrid or Juventus – plus one of either Liverpool and Bayern Munich and Barcelona and Lyon – means the competition is wide open.

Spurs and Manchester United are already there and the prospect of four Premier League representatives in the last eight is an intriguing one.