Manchester City travel to Portman Road on Sunday afternoon looking to regain momentum in their top-four push after a disappointing draw against Brentford. Pep Guardiola’s squad is slowly returning to full strength, with Ruben Dias and Oscar Bobb back in training.
Match Preview: City Looking to Bounce Back
- Man City dropped points midweek in a 2-2 draw against Brentford, raising further questions about their defensive resilience.
- Ipswich, newly promoted, have shown they can compete against top-tier opposition.
- Guardiola may rotate his squad with a crucial Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain coming up next week.
Here’s how Manchester City could line up against Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
Man City Predicted XI vs Ipswich (4-1-4-1 Formation)
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Stefan Ortega |
| RB | Rico Lewis |
| CB | Manuel Akanji |
| CB | Nathan Ake |
| LB | Josko Gvardiol |
| CDM | Ilkay Gundogan |
| RM | Bernardo Silva |
| AM | James McAtee |
| AM | Phil Foden |
| LM | Jeremy Doku |
| ST | Erling Haaland |
Predicted Lineup Breakdown
Goalkeeper & Defense
- GK: Stefan Ortega
- Ortega has deputized well for Ederson, but after a mixed performance against Brentford, Guardiola may still stick with him.
- RB: Rico Lewis
- Kyle Walker remains absent, so Lewis could step in to provide defensive stability and attacking support.
- CB: Manuel Akanji
- Akanji has been reliable, but could shift to right-back when Ruben Dias and John Stones return to full fitness.
- CB: Nathan Ake
- With Dias only just returning to training, Ake is expected to retain his place in the starting XI.
- LB: Josko Gvardiol
- Despite an inconsistent season, the Croatian is City’s best left-back option for this fixture.
Midfield
- CDM: Ilkay Gundogan
- Guardiola has struggled to replace Rodri’s defensive stability, but Gundogan could sit deeper in this match.
- RM: Bernardo Silva
- Silva is ever-present in Guardiola’s system, rarely being rested due to his importance in controlling the game.
- AM: James McAtee
- McAtee could start ahead of Kevin De Bruyne, who may be rested for the PSG clash.
- AM: Phil Foden
- Foden has rediscovered his form, playing a crucial role in City’s attack.
- LM: Jeremy Doku
- With Savinho impressing recently, Guardiola could opt to give Doku or Jack Grealish a start.
Attack
- ST: Erling Haaland
- Fresh off signing a bumper contract extension, Haaland will look to get back on the scoresheet.
Key Match Considerations
✅ City Looking to Regain Momentum
- Dropping points to Brentford highlighted City’s defensive vulnerabilities. A convincing win over Ipswich would help regain confidence.
✅ Squad Rotation with Champions League in Mind
- With PSG on the horizon, Guardiola may rest key players like De Bruyne and Ederson.
✅ Ipswich’s Fighting Spirit
- The newly promoted side will look to frustrate City, similar to how Brentford did midweek.
Predicted Scoreline
🔵 Ipswich 0-3 Man City 🔵
- Haaland, Foden, and McAtee on the scoresheet.
FAQs
- Will Ederson start in goal?
- Likely not. Guardiola has been favoring Ortega in recent weeks.
- Why is McAtee starting over De Bruyne?
- De Bruyne may be rested ahead of City’s Champions League match vs PSG.
- Will Ruben Dias play?
- Dias is back in training but unlikely to start as Guardiola manages his fitness.
- Who will play at right-back?
- Rico Lewis is expected to start, with Matheus Nunes as a backup option.
- How important is this match for City’s title race?
- While not a must-win, dropping points would severely hurt their top-four ambitions.
