Boss Pep Guardiola admits that Champions League success is the aim for City this season but if they don’t win European football’s elite club competition in 2019-20 they will try again next year.
The Spaniard said: “I want to win this tournament but if I don’t, it won’t change my life. I won’t kill myself.
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“Of course we will try. I will be happier if we do it but if we don’t we will try again next year. It is the logical next step but it is not always possible.”
City play their first home match of the campaign against a Dinamo side that top group C following a 4-0 win last time out against Atalanta.
After their 3-0 victory at Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday one City are level with the Croats on three points, but lie second in the group standings because of goal difference.
Guardiola has warned his squad to be wary of Dinamo’s talent. He said: “Atalanta play in a tough league [Serie A], they are close to Juventus and Inter. Dinamo beat them 4-0. That is a warning for us to be careful.”
TV and live stream details
The group C clash will be live on BT Sport 3. Coverage starts at 7pm and the match kicks off at 8pm. The broadcaster will also show a live stream of the game at sport.bt.com.
Atalanta host Shakhtar in the other group C fixture on Tuesday (5.55pm, live on BT Sport ESPN).
Team news and starting XIs
Man City team news
Man City have confirmed that Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne will miss the clash at the Etihad because of a groin injury.
Centre-halfs Aymeric Laporte and John Stones remain on the sidelines so City boss Guardiola will have decisions to make about his defence. Winger Leroy Sane is also a long-term absentee.
Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho are expected to line up in the back four, and Guardiola said: “If [Fernandinho] feels fit he can play [two games in a week]. It depends on his regeneration after games.
“When John [Stones] comes back we can make an alternative, now we have young alternatives and Rodri can play there.”
Riyad Mahrez, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling are likely to start as City’s front three.
Dinamo Zagreb team news
According to Uefa.com striker Komnen Andrić is Dinamo’s only injury worry. The Croatians don’t have any players suspended.
How the teams could line up
Man City possible starting XI: Ederson; Cancelo, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Mendy; Rodri, B Silva, D Silva; Mahrez, Agüero, Sterling
Dinamo Zagreb possible starting XI: Livaković; Théophile-Catherine, Dilaver, Perić; Stojanovič, Moro, Ademi, Olmo, Leovac; Oršić, Petković
Man City vs. Dinamo Zagreb predictions
Tom Doyle, London Evening Standard: Man City 3 Dinamo Zagreb 0
“Since that shock defeat at Norwich, City have won all four of their games, scoring 17 goals in the process. Dinamo already find themselves in a decent position with a 4-0 win over Atalanta leaving them top of the group, and results against City aren’t likely to affect where they end up in the table. Expect Dinamo to start well, but City should ease to a comfortable win. Prediction: Man City 3-0 Dinamo.”
Barney Corkhill, SportsMole: Man City 3 Dinamo Zagreb 0
“Zagreb enjoyed a memorable night in their opener, but their hopes of pulling off a much bigger upset look bleak. Man City are scoring goals for fun at the moment and it is difficult to see them coming away with anything other than a comfortable home victory to make it two wins from two. We say: Man City 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb.”
Tom Gott, 90min.com: Man City 3 Dinamo Zagreb 0
“City come into this game as the overwhelming favourites, and they will certainly know that. This could be one of those games that ends up looking more like a cricket scoreline if City want it to. However, this could actually be a real test for Guardiola’s men. Dinamo proved last time out against Atalanta that they are not in this group just to make up the numbers. They can really play and, led by former Barcelona starlet Dani Olmo, they could cause City some real problems. Nevertheless, this is City’s game to lose, and they should be able to walk away with three points fairly easily. Prediction: Man City 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb.”
Callum Rice-Coates, Independent: Man City 4 Dinamo Zagreb 1
“Dinamo Zagreb have started the season well, but City should have far too much for their Croatian opposition. Even with question marks over their defence - given the absence of Laporte and Stones - the Premier League champions are likely to simply be too quick and too clinical in attack for the visitors. Nenad Bjelica’s side will not make it easy, but expect another comfortable victory for Guardiola’s free-scoring City. Prediction: Man City 4-1 Dinamo Zagreb.”
The Hard Tackle: Man City 2 Dinamo Zagreb 1
“We feel Dinamo Zagreb have it in them to trouble the star-studded hosts on Tuesday. Manchester City are a different beast on their day and proved it against Shakhtar Donetsk. But, Dinamo have shown they are a well-oiled machine as well and can give any of the top teams in Europe a run for their money. It will be a battle of two attacks at Etihad on Tuesday, with neither defence likely to be able to stop the respective attacks from creating chances. We are going for a narrow win for Manchester City with a 2-1 scoreline. But, we expect more goals in this encounter. Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb.”
Charlie Nicholas, Sky Sports: Man City 4 Dinamo Zagreb 0
“We had a chuckle at the weekend about this. Pep Guardiola was resting Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Bernardo Silva, yet they still got the job done away at Everton. I would not be surprised if it was a Champions League hat-trick for Aguero but Guardiola could make five or six changes and throw other people in that have something to show and prove. Prediction: Man City 4 Dinamo Zagreb 0.”
Ben Gray, 101 Great Goals: Man City 5 Dinamo Zagreb 0
“At the weekend, GNK Dinamo beat Zagreb rivals NK Lokomotiva 4-0 so are join-top of the league. Manchester City meanwhile beat Everton 3-1 at Goodison so are second in the Premier League, five points behind Liverpool. This should be a big home win. Prediction: Manchester City 5-0 Dinamo Zagreb.”
(Image credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Tuesday 1 October: UCL matchday two fixtures
Group A
Real Madrid vs. Club Brugge (5.55pm, live on BT Sport 1)
Galatasaray vs. Paris Saint Germain (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 2)
Group B
Red Star Belgrade vs. Olympiakos (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 4)
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Bayern Munich (8pm, live on BT Sport 2 and BT Sport Ultimate)
Group C
Atalanta vs. Shakhtar Donetsk (5.55pm, live on BT Sport ESPN)
Manchester City vs. Dinamo Zagreb (8pm, live on BT Sport 3)
Group D
Juventus vs. Bayer 04 Leverkusen (8pm, live on BT Sport ESPN)
Lokomotiv Moscow vs. Atlético Madrid (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 3)
Wednesday 2 October: UCL matchday two fixtures
Group E
KRC Genk vs. Napoli (5.55pm, live on BT Sport 1)
Liverpool vs. FC Red Bull Salzburg (8pm, live on BT Sport 3 and BT Sport Ultimate)
Group F
Slavia Prague vs. Borussia Dortmund (5.55pm, live on BT Sport ESPN)
Barcelona vs. Inter Milan (8pm, live on BT Sport ESPN)
Group G
RB Leipzig vs. Lyon (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 3)
Zenit St Petersburg vs. Benfica (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 4)
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