Pep Guardiola will use this weekend’s FA Cup tie at Leyton Orient to rotate with one eye on the seismic Champions League showdown with Real Madrid on Tuesday night.. Manchester City are heavy favourites to progress against third tier Leyton Orient and will be keen to respond to their 5-1 thumping at Arsenal last time out. Guardiola will still go strong with his selection but that will allow space to make changes given the frantic February fixture list.. Ederson missed the Emirates defeat and while Stefan Ortega didn’t cover himself in glory last time out it makes sense to stick with the German at Orient. Central defence has been an issue for City and Guardiola all season and there is no need to risk Ruben Dias or Nathan Ake as they continue their comebacks from injury. John Stones should also be wrapped in cotton wool given his fitness struggles but Manuel Akanji may be pressed into action as the senior player in the back four.. Abdukodir Khusanov can come in alongside Akanji for his second start. Victor Reis may also be eyeing an opportunity but to go with an all-rookie pairing is a risk not worth taking. Josko Gvardiol can be given the afternoon off with Nico O’Reilly stepping in at full back as he did against Salford City in the last round.. City can expect to dominate the ball and Rico Lewis can start at right back. Logic would dictate he replaces Mathues Nunes in that position against Madrid even if Guardiola has overlooked the teenager in recent weeks. Either way a run-out for the 20-year-old who hasn’t started a game since the win over West Ham more than a month ago would be beneficial.. Ilkay Gundogan can bring the midfield experience with James McAtee offered a start alongside him. Jack Grealish, who scored in the last round, can operate centrally as he did in round three. Perhaps the big selection decisions are on the two wide spots as Erling Haaland can be saved for Madrid with Divin Mubama leading the line.. If Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva are likely starters against Real then Omar Marmoush can be given a chance to open his City account. Nico Gonzalez only arrived in Manchester in midweek and his debut can come from the bench. If Jeremy Doku is fit then he completes the XI. Savinho can step in if the Belgian isn’t ready.. City predicted XI: Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Khusanov, O’Reilly; Gundogan, McAtee, Grealish; Marmoush, Doku, Mubama.
