Champions League: Man City vs. Lyon team news, possible starting XIs, TV channel
Pep Guardiola could be without striker Sergio Aguero and left-back Benjamin Mendy – and won’t be in the City dugout

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Manchester City vs. Lyon
- What: Champions League group F matchday one
- When: Wednesday 19 September
- Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- Kick-off time: 8pm (all times UK)
- TV channel: BT Sport 3, coverage starts at 7.15pm
Manchester City are favourites to win the Champions League and will kick off their group F campaign against Lyon at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Premier League champions will have to face the French side without boss Pep Guardiola in the dugout. The Manchester Evening News reports that the Spaniard will watch from the stands due to a touchline suspension rolled over from last season.
City are expected to win the group that contains Lyon, Shakhtar Donetsk and 1899 Hoffenheim, but defender Aymeric Laporte says the French opponents will provide a tough start in matchday one.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“I know some of the Lyon players from the French national team,” said Laporte. “Sometimes, I try to watch them play too. Lyon are strong. We’ll analyse them intently, but as I say, they are a team with great quality and [they’re] very strong, physically.
“They are used to competing at the highest level, as well. They are been there, among the top teams of the Ligue 1, for many years.”
Lyon signed Celtic striker Moussa Dembele during the summer transfer window. He is now available to play after making his debut at the weekend.
In the other group F game Shakhtar Donetsk host 1899 Hoffenheim (5.55pm).
Man City vs. Lyon team news
Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is a long-term absentee after sustaining a lateral collateral ligament lesion. Back-up goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is also unavailable due to an injured Achilles tendon.
City boss Guardiola could also be without striker Sergio Aguero (ankle knock) and full-back Benjamin Mendy, who missed the Fulham game on Saturday because of a knee issue.
The Daily Express reports that Fabian Delph is likely to continue at left-back should Mendy be ruled out.
While Moussa Dembele is available to play, fellow Lyon striker Amine Gouiri is out because of a ruptured cruciate ligament injury.
Predicted starting XIs
How the teams could line up at the Etihad, according to talkSPORT.
- Man City possible starting XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Delph, B. Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling
- Lyon possible starting XI: Lopes, Rafael, Marcelo, Denayer, Tousart, Alvaro, Traore, Fekir, Terrier, Dembele
How to watch it on TV
The group F clash between Manchester City and Lyon will be shown live on BT Sport 3. Coverage starts at 7.15pm and kick-off is at 8pm. Shakhtar Donetsk vs. 1899 Hoffenheim will be shown live on BT Sport 1.
Champions League matchday one fixtures
Wednesday 19 September (all times UK, live on BT Sport)
- Group E: Ajax vs. AEK Athens (5.55pm); Benfica vs. Bayern Munich (8pm)
- Group F: Shakhtar Donetsk vs. 1899 Hoffenheim (5.55pm); Manchester City vs. Lyon (8pm)
- Group G: Real Madrid vs. Roma (8pm); Viktoria Plzen vs. CSKA Moscow (8pm)
- Group H: Valencia vs. Juventus (8pm); Young Boys vs. Manchester United (8pm)
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
What to know when filing a hurricane insurance claim
The Explainer A step-by-step to figure out what insurance will cover and what else you can do beyond filing a claim
By Becca Stanek Published
-
How fees impact your investment portfolio — and how to save on them
The Explainer Even seemingly small fees can take a big bite out of returns
By Becca Stanek Published
-
Enemy without
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Champions League final: Man City vs. Inter predictions and preview
feature Can Guardiola’s team finally win the Champions League and complete a historic treble?
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Man City’s financial charges: what next for the Premier League champions?
feature The club is alleged to have breached financial rules around 100 times over a nine-year period
By Mike Starling Published
-
Erling Haaland: does Manchester City have the ‘best player in the world’?
Talking Point The young Norwegian striker has already scored 14 goals in eight games
By The Week Staff Published
-
Erling Haaland: Man City’s ‘goalscoring monster’ is ‘spooking’ Premier League rivals
Why Everyone’s Talking About Norwegian striker netted his first City hat-trick in the 4-2 win over Palace
By Mike Starling Published