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Manchester City are set to kick off their Champions League campaign in Portugal, where they’ll take on giants Porto at the Estádio do Dragão. For the first time since the 2015/16 season, Man City will begin a Champions League campaign without Pep Guardiola in charge. Tuesday night’s trip to Porto will mark a new chapter for new manager Enzo Maresca, who already has European success on his growing managerial record. Maresca guided Chelsea to Europa Conference League glory in the 2024/25 season before taking charge of six Champions League matches later in 2025. The Blues recorded three wins, one draw and two defeats during that run, with a memorable 3-0 victory over Barcelona standing out as one of his biggest results. Meanwhile, Man City seem to have put their 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal behind them. They have won all three of their Premier League matches so far, collecting nine points from games against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and newly promoted Coventry City. Erling Braut Haaland delivered the decisive moment against Coventry on Saturday, scoring his 300th career goal while also beating a Man City record previously held by Sergio Aguero. However, Man City needed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to produce several important saves to protect their narrow lead and secure their first clean sheet of the season. Man City are heading into this contest as favourites, but their away record leaves the door open for a potential opening day shocker. They have won only two of their last nine Champions League away games while suffering six defeats. How Man City could line up Maresca will be forced to make a couple of changes for the Champions League opener, especially at left-back after Nico O’Reilly’s injury scare. While Gianluigi Donnarumma retains his place in goal, Rayan Ait-Nouri should be ready to step into the back four alongside Marc Guehi, Ruben Dias, and Matheus Nunes. Elliot Anderson could have a new partner in the middle of the park with £86 million teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi set to make his full Man City debut ahead of Enzo Fernandez. Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, and Phil Foden should line up behind Haaland in attack. Predicted XI; (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Anderson, Bouaddi; Semenyo, Cherki, Foden; Haaland