Dinamo Zagreb v Manchester City: Champions League – live!

25 mins A good atmosphere being created tonight in Zagreb, no doubt buoyed by the fact that as it stands the home team will be going through to the knockout stages. A great chance to double their lead after Gundogan loses the ball goes begging though as the through ball fails to find Orsik.

20 mins Almost a way through for Riyad Mahrez there but a last-ditch tackle denied him. Then Livakovic does well to beat away a deflected shot from Ilkay Gundogan.

17 mins This is Claudio Bravo’s first game in the Champions League for a while and even if he has already conceded once, at least one person is pleased to see him tonight.

“The only reason I’m going to watch this game (beside the fact that it’s the only game on TV here) is because Claudio Bravo is playing,” writes J.R in Illinois. “There’s something irresistible about him. When he plays you never feel like you know what’s going to happen and it seems like anything is possible. He makes the world a more exciting and unpredictable place.”

He certainly does.

15 mins Dinamo Zagreb are defending well despite being without most of their first-choice defence. Foden and Silva are probing but no way through just yet.

11 mins That was a brilliant improvised finish from the young Spaniard. The ball came in from the right flank and he swivelled to direct the volley past Bravo. That takes Dinamo up to second place in the group as well.

Dani Olmo with a stunning volley! What a goal

8 mins Another Mendy cross goes sailing out of play but Dinamo Zagreb are starting to look a threat in attack. So far so steady for Eric Garcia, who at least has the

calming
presence of Nicolas Otamendi alongside him

3 mins Olmo is furious after being brought down by Rodri but the referee wasn’t interested and waved play on. City on the attack down the left and Mendy’s cross is blocked by a Ademi’s “abdominal area” as the WWF commentators used to call it. That hurt!

Peep peep and we’re off! Dani Olmo straight into the action – watch out for the Spain youth international in midfield. Here’s an excellent article about him

It’s some reception for the players as they emerge onto the pitch in Zagreb. The home fans are ready for this!

Pep speaks to BT Sport: “Phil Foden just has to have fun and play. As managers, we have the ideas, but they are the artists and they have to play.”

No pressure then …

So what are City up against tonight? By all accounts a pretty decent Dinamo Zagreb team, who lead their domestic division by 12 points already having scored 32 goals in their 17 matches so far. But their real strength is at the back, having conceded only eight times in the league. Dinamo gave a pretty decent account of themselves at the Etihad in the 2-0 defeat back in October so they are not to be taken lightly.

So that’s eight changes for City from the side that lost the Manchester derby … only Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus remain. Interested to see how teenage defender Eric Garcia fares at the back tonight.

Dinamo Zagreb: Livakovic, Stojanovic, Arijan Ademi, Dilaver, Moubandje, Gojak, Moro, Olmo, Kadzior, Petkovic, Orsic.

Subs: Zagorac, Hajrovic, Majer, Gavranovic, Situm, Ivanusec, Gjira.

Manchester City: Bravo, Cancelo, Otamendi (C), E Garcia, Mendy, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Mahrez, Foden, Bernardo, Jesus

Subs: Ederson, Walker, Sterling, Zinchenko, Angelino, De Bruyne, Harwood-Bellis.

It’s a big night for one team at the Stadion Maksimir, although fortunately that isn’t Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s men have already assured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League after three wins and two draws so far in the group stage, meaning they are in the hat as group winners no matter happens tonight against Dinamo Zagreb.

The Croatians are vey much still in with a shout of making it through, which would be some achievement. Nenad Bjelica’s side are currently third, one point behind Shakhtar Donetsk, and will require victory to stand a chance. The Ukrainians are playing Atalanta at home, who also have an outside chance of qualifying so it really is set up for a fascinating evening.

City are likely to give a run out to a few of their fringe players so expect to see Phil Foden picked in midfield, although goodness knows who Pep might select in defence. Zagreb are no soft touch having already thrashed Atalanta 4-0 at home and drawn both matches against Shakhtar and will be cheered on by a packed stadium as they attempt to make history.

The Croatian champions have never qualified from the group stages of the Champions League before and have a prolific striker in the form of Mislav Orsic. The 26-year-old has 17 goals this season and has recently earned a call up to the Croatian national team so may cause City a few headaches tonight. Should be interesting …

Kick-off: 5.55pm GMT, 6.55pm local.