Manchester City vs M'gladbach. UEFA Champions League Group C.
Etihad StadiumAttendance30,270.
Wednesday 14 September 2016 19:40, UK
Sergio Aguero is fit to face Borussia Monchengladbach in Manchester City's rearranged Champions League group-stage opener at the Etihad on Wednesday.
Tuesday's tie was postponed after the Etihad pitch was left unplayable by a spell of incessant rain, as well as a spectacular thunder and lightning storm, in Manchester and nearby areas.
The kick-off time for the rescheduled fixture remains 7.45pm.
Aguero missed the derby win over Manchester United through suspension, but Pep Guardiola has confirmed the City forward can play against the Bundesliga side.
Guardiola, who revealed Ilkay Gundogan and Vincent Kompany are closing in on a first-team return, said: "Aguero can play - he was banned, not injured.
"Gundogan every day and every week is much, much better. Vincent is in the same situation - he's training hard. All of the players who didn't face United did hard training and he trained really good.
"They are almost there to help us play the next six games in the next 18 days."
City reached the Champions League semi-final for the first time last season, but were knocked out by eventual champions, Real Madrid.
Guardiola, who admitted his side have a tough opener to the new campaign, added: "Borussia are a brave team, a brave coach - one of the best teams in Europe. If we let them play, they have a lot of quality. The draw was difficult for us - of course because of Barcelona but also Monchengladbach.
"They are so, so intelligent. The players in the middle - they are so, so offensive. They receive five players behind our midfield. They counter-attack like a master. Like a German team. They do it well."
Team news
Fabian Delph and Fernando both missed training on Monday through injury.
Kompany continues to train and is close to returning after a thigh injury while new midfielder Gundogan is also nearing a debut after knee trouble. Midfielder Yaya Toure is not registered for the competition.
Opta stats
Monchengladbach have won only one of their six games against English clubs in all competitions - a 3-2 win over Arsenal in the UEFA Cup in September 1996.
Wednesday's clash will be Man City's sixth consecutive Champions League participation.
This is Borussia Monchengladbach's second consecutive Champions League group stage participation, after failing to qualify for any of the previous 23 campaigns.
Aguero has failed to score in his last five Champions League games, his longest drought in the competition since his run of five games without a goal between November 2011 and October 2012.
Charlie predicts
City are on a high from the weekend but it was one good half and they know now, in Claudio Bravo, that they've got a guy in goal that takes a risk.
They'll dominate possession and pin Monchengladbach in but this side are a strong unit even without Granit Xhaka.
Kevin De Bruyne was so important at the weekend and Aguero will be frustrated with himself so I'd expect a commanding performance and a comfortable win.
Charlie predicts: 3-0 Nolito to score first (40/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting odds
Manchester City are 4/9 with Sky Bet to kick-off the Champions League group stages with a victory, while Borussia Monchengladbach are 11/2 to cause an upset and 18/5 to hold their hosts to a draw.
Guardiola's men are currently 12/1 joint fourth favourites to lift the trophy and 2/1 to win their group, with Barcelona heading both markets. Aguero tops the goalscorer betting at 11/4 to net first, while Raffael Caetano is deemed the visitors' main threat at 15/2 to break the deadlock.
