City have made two changes for this afternoon's crucial Premier League clash against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium (17:30 UK), with Nathan Ake and Tijjani Reijnders stepping into the starting lineup. They replace Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico Gonzalez, with the latter dropping to the bench. Khusanov and Rodri are not fully fit to face the Bees, while long-term absentee Josko Gvardiol has returned to training after a four-month spell on the sidelines.
There's also a welcome boost on the bench: Ruben Dias is named as a substitute, making his first squad appearance since March's home clash with Real Madrid. Victory this evening would move City within two points of league leaders Arsenal, with just three games remaining in the 2025/26 Premier League season.
The full City XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Guéhi, Ake, O'Reilly; Bernardo (C), Reijnders; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland. Substitutes: Trafford, Dias, Stones, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.
Brentford XI: Kelleher; Hickey, Collins (C), Ajer, Kayode; Jensen, Yarmoluk; Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter, Schade; Thiago. Substitutes: Valdirmarsson, van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Dasilva, Nelson, Outtarra, Janelt, Furo.
Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal, protected by a back four of Matheus Nunes, Marc Guéhi, Nathan Ake, and Nico O'Reilly. Bernardo Silva anchors the midfield, supported by Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki in the central third. Out wide, Antoine Semenyo and Jeremy Doku will look to service talisman Erling Haaland.
All eyes will be on Jeremy Doku, who is in scintillating form right now. The flying winger—true poetry in motion—is showing an abundance of pace and grace on the pitch, playing a starring role in the sky blue shirt. In his last five outings, Doku has scored four goals and provided two assists. Since the start of April, only Ollie Watkins and Morgan Gibbs-White have been involved in more goals among Premier League players. Doku has also created 50 chances this season—all from open play—the most by any player without a single contribution from set pieces like corners or free kicks.