Champions League 2025-2026: Villarreal-Manchester City, the likely lineups

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City makes a stop in Spain to face Villarreal in an electrifying confrontation valid for the third day of the UEFA Champions League championship phase. After stopping Juventus, the “Yellow Submarine” attempts a new blow against a European big name, while the Englishmen seek continuity and heavy points to secure direct qualification to the round of 16.

The Villarreal, led by Marcelino, aims to continue their European journey and enter the playoff zone, while City aims to close the league phase among the top eight. Three points stand between the two formations: Spaniards at 1, English at 4.

Villarreal collected a draw and a defeat in the first two days. After the narrow loss to Tottenham (1-0 in London, with Luiz Junior’s own goal), the yellow and blue fought back against Juventus, nabbing a 2-2 draw in the final thanks to former Renato Veiga’s goal, after the Bianconeri had overturned Mikautadze’s initial goal. Now an even bigger feat is needed: beating City in front of the home crowd.

Manchester City’s path was more linear, starting with a 2-0 win at Napoli signed by Haaland and Doku, but then held back at 2-2 by Monaco. The Norwegian striker was again the protagonist, author of a double that was not enough to bend the Monegasques, who were able to reply with Teze and Dier on a penalty kick. Guardiola, on his second consecutive European away trip, is asking his men for more solidity and concentration to avoid drops like the one in Monte Carlo.

The last precedent between Villarreal and Manchester City in the Champions League dates back to 2011, with an English double win in Roberto Mancini’s time. This time, however, the Spaniards promise battle in a match that smells of high Europe.

Probable lineups:

Villarreal (4-4-2): Arnau Tenas; Pau Navarro, Rafa Marín, Renato Veiga, Cardona; Buchanan, Gueye, Comesaña, Alberto; Mikautadze, Pepe.
Coach: Marcelino

Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Nico González; Doku, Foden, Reijnders, Bobb; Haaland.
Coach: Guardiola