Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has revealed plans to manage striker Erling Haaland's rest ahead of their Champions League clash with FC Porto. The match is set for Tuesday at the Estádio do Dragão. Porto, who lead the Primeira Liga with 15 points from five wins and a +10 goal difference, host the English champions in the revamped group stage.
Maresca highlighted Haaland's family responsibilities, having become a father in 2024, as a factor in his management. "He’s a man now. He’s a dad." the Italian coach said. Haaland has scored three goals in City's opening three Premier League wins this season and won the Golden Boot in three of his four previous campaigns at the club.
The possibility of Haaland being rested opens up other options for Manchester City's attack. Maresca has Antoine Semenyo available for the central striker role. Alternatively, he could opt for a false nine, a role that could be filled by Phil Foden or Rayan Cherki, with the latter able to drop deeper to manage the game's tempo. Foden was praised by Maresca for his final pass in the recent 1-0 win against Coventry.
Uncertainty also surrounds Jérémy Doku, whose availability for the match is in doubt due to injury. Nico O’Reilly, however, is likely to be available after missing the Coventry game. The Porto team, who won their 31st league title under Francesco Farioli, can check the opposition's squad status on our injuries page.
Enzo Maresca refused to label Manchester City as automatic favourites for the clash at the Dragão. The manager highlighted Porto's strength in set pieces, an aspect the Portuguese side will look to exploit. "The game will decide who is the favourite," Maresca stated, showing respect for an opponent who sits two points clear of Sporting CP at the top of the domestic table. Porto's defensive consistency, conceding just one goal in five league games, will be a serious test for City's attack.
Maresca acknowledged the fatigue for players who represent their national teams. "It’s not easy for Erling or for any of the players that play for club and international teams." he explained. Haaland was part of the Norway national team that reached the World Cup quarter-finals and has played every competitive minute of the Champions League campaign so far.
FC Porto enters this European duel in the best possible form of their domestic season. With five wins from five matches, Farioli's team has built an impressive run of results. The team has scored 11 goals and conceded just one. Fans can follow the league standings evolution in our stats section.
This match marks the start of the new Champions League league phase for the Dragons. After the City challenge, Porto must quickly refocus on the league, with an away trip to face 18th-placed Casa Pia next Saturday, September 12th. The full schedule is available on our fixtures page.
