Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Kick-off: 8:00 pm
Venue: Estadio De La Ceramica
Match Official: Seder Gozubuyuk (Netherlands)
Goal Scorer:
Team Updates
Villarreal
Villarreal will be missing Loigan Costa, Pau Cabanes, and Willy Kambwala due to injuries. The hosts are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation against Manchester City, with Luiz Junior guarding the net.
Full-back duties will be handled by Pau Navarro and Alfonso Pedraza, who will focus on maintaining defensive solidity and curbing Manchester City’s wide threats. Central defense will see Rafa Marin partnering with Renato Veiga to form a resilient backline.
In midfield, Dani Parejo and Pape Gueye are set to provide stability and defensive support. On the wings, Tajon Buchanan and Alberto Moleiro will aim to shield the full-backs while launching quick counterattacks. Leading the attack, Georges Mikautadze will team up with Nicolas Pepe to spearhead Villarreal’s offensive efforts.
Expected Starting XI (4-4-2): Junior; Navarro, Marin, Veiga, Pedraza; Buchanan, Parejo, Gueye, Moleiro; Mikautadze, Pepe
Manchester City
The visitors will be without Abdukodir Khusanov, Rodri, and Rayan Ait-Nouri, who remain sidelined. Manchester City are anticipated to deploy their trademark 4-1-4-1 setup, with Gianluigi Donnarumma starting in goal.
Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly will occupy the full-back positions, contributing both defensively and offensively. Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol will anchor the central defense.
In midfield, Nico Gonzalez will operate as the holding midfielder, orchestrating play from deep. Ahead of him, Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden will provide creativity and control in advanced central roles.
On the flanks, Savinho and Jeremy Doku will bring speed, skill, and goal-scoring threat, while Erling Haaland leads the line as the primary striker for Manchester City at Estadio De La Ceramica on Tuesday evening.
Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez; Doku, Reijnders, Foden, Savinho; Haaland
Match Prediction: Villarreal 1-3 Manchester City