Red Star Belgrade vs Man City – Champions League: Live score, team news and updates as Pep Guardiola makes NINE changes with top spot already wrapped up and hands starts to Kalvin Phillips and academy debutant Micah Hamilton

It may not extend to their European forays, but the Belgrade club is truly worthy of seeing their ground dubbed a ‘fortress’.

The side currently sit atop the Superliga – tracked closely by ever-present crosstown rivals Partizan, behind them only on goal difference.

RED STAR: Glazer, Nedeljkovic, Djiga, Spajic, Dragovic, Kanga, Mijailovic, Hwang In-beom, Bukar, Ndiaye, Olayinka

Substitutes: Degenek, Stamenic, Katai, Krasso, Milunovic, Kangwa, Mijatovic, Rodic, Vasiljevic, Lucic, Kabic, Mitrovic

There’s likely to be a heavy police presence at Stadium Rajko Mitic, after Red Star’s notorious ultra group, the Delije, attacked fans in Belgrade last night.

Authorities were on the hunt of masked attackers who allegedly ambushed fans the night before the tie, with around 20 travelling fans caught up in the fracas.

Spare a thought for the midfielder, handed just his second start of the season in what some might call a meaningless European tie just a week after Guardiola said that he felt ‘sorry’ for the lack of action his midfielder had seen.

However, the opportunity is a positive one – the chance to show off in the European top flight may not go the whole way towards convincing his manager of playing time, but clubs eyeing Phillips over a potential January loan move will no doubt be tuning in with interest.

1. Man City – 15pts

2. Leipzig – 9pts

3. Young Boys – 4pts

4. Red Star Belgrade – 1pt

Not the most heartening reading for a Red Star side preparing to stare down the English treble winners.

Can the serial Serbian champions pull off the mother of all upsets at home?

One thing that could smooth passage is a dearth of regular starters, as Guardiola rolls the dice and gets some Champions League experience in his raft of young, underutilised talents.

Mail Sport’s Jack Gaughan has the full report, below.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage as Man City end their Champions League group stage journey against Red Star Belgrade in the Serbian capital.

Dead rubber? Nothing of the sort! Guardiola’s side may have romped away with the top spot in Group G thanks to a blemish-free campaign thus far, but the bottom-place hosts could still a mount a great escape into the Europa League if they win, score more than two, and results go their way in Leipzig…

We’ll be kicking off at the famously welcoming Stadium Rajko Mitic at 5.45pm, but stick around for all the team news and build-up ahead of time.