Champions League team news and prediction: Marseille vs Man City

Gameweek two of the Champions League kicks off this week as the group stage games come thick and fast. Manchester City make the trip to Marseille in a bid to improve their chances of securing top spot in one of their toughest games at this stage of the competition. 

In the build up to Tuesday's meeting in France, we have all your need-to-know match information in one place, including team news, where you can watch the game and a scoreline prediction.   

When is kick off?      

Tuesday 27th October, 20:00 GMT      

Where is the match?      

Orange Velodrome, Marseille 

Where can I watch it?      

BT Sport 2 

Gameweek One 

Marseille faltered in their first game of the 2020/21 Champions League campaign as they fell to a 1-0 defeat in Greece. Ahmed Hassan Mahgoub struck late on to hand Olympiacos a narrow victory, with former Marseille man Mathieu Valbuena grabbing the assist for the Egyptian's late winner. It was a relatively even affair, with both teams sharing 50% possession and Marseille mustering 10 shots to Olympiacos' 11, so the French side will have been disappointed not have grabbed a result in Greece. 

Manchester City, meanwhile, earned a 3-1 win over FC Porto to lay down a marker for the 2020/21 Champions League. City showed great resolve to turn their fortunes around at the Etihad Stadium having gone 1-0 down to an early Luis Diaz strike. Sergio Aguero drew City level from the spot, before goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres wrapped up the three points for Pep Guardiola's side. 

Team News 

Marseille have no injury or suspension concerns to worry themselves about for the welcome of Manchester City. Dimitri Payet is set to serve a domestic ban, but is available here, though his recent poor form means he may be dropped. Boubacar Kamara missed the 1-0 loss at Olympiacos due to suspension, however is expected to return to the starting XI for the home side against City.

Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench in Saturday's 1-1 draw with West Ham and is set to make his first Champions League appearance of the season in France on Tuesday night. His return comes as a boost, particularly with Sergio Aguero missing out. Gabriel Jesus, Benjamin Mendy, Nathan Ake and Fernandinho also miss the visit to Marseille, but Aymeric Laporte has made the trip, with his potential availability a huge lift for City. Kyle Walker was withdrawn late on against West Ham and while he has travelled to the south of France, he may be rested. 

Probable XIs 

Marseille (433) - Mandanda; Sakai, Gonzalez, Caleta-Car, Amavi; Rongier, Kamara, Gueye; Thauvin, Benedetto, Radonjic

Manchester City (4231) - Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Rodri, Gundogan; Torres, De Bruyne, Foden; Sterling

Key Battle - Florian Thauvin vs Kevin De Bruyne

Injuries effectively curtailed Florian Thauvin's 2019/20 Ligue 1 season, with the France international restricted to just 20 minutes of league action, but the winger has spared no effort in making up for lost time this time around. The Marseille star has three goals and five assists to his name from his opening eight league outings this term, culminating in a WhoScored rating of 7.45. While he failed to transfer that excellent league form to European competition in Marseille's defeat to Olympiacos, back on home turf Andre Villas-Boas will expect Thauvin to make amends against Manchester City.

Kevin De Bruyne has started just three of Manchester City's five league matches this season, and he should earn his first Champions League start of the campaign in Marseille in midweek. That being said, despite a lack of game time due to injury, the Belgian's 15 key passes ranks joint-fifth in England's top tier this term, a fine return all things considered. Having earned the WhoScored man of the match award on his last Champions League appearance, he'll be aiming to guide City to a second group stage win to really put the Premier League side in the driving seat for qualification.

Prediction: Marseille 1-2 Manchester City