Blow to Man City as they could be without three key defenders for Real Madrid Champions League encounter
Manchester City may be without three defenders for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final match against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
Injuries have ruled out right-back Kyle Walker and center-back John Stones for the opening leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Walker was out of Saturday’s 5-1 triumph against Watford owing to a calf injury, and Stones was also out due to a knock.
Both are questionable for tonight’s first leg against Real Madrid, who eliminated Chelsea from the competition in the quarter-finals.
Joao Cancelo, a Portuguese full-back who has been booked three times in the competition this season, will also miss the game due to suspension.
In terms of the injuries, Guardiola thinks that if any of them makes a late return to the lineup, it will be decided just hours before kickoff.
“They (Walker and Stones) are doubts, they didn’t train for the last week to ten days and John since Brighton,” said Guardiola.
“We’ll see how they feel, we’ll speak to them tomorrow (Tuesday) and then make the decision.”
Despite reaching last season’s final in Porto, City have yet to win the competition. Thomas Tuchel’s side won 1-0 against Chelsea in Portugal 11 months ago, due to Kai Havertz’s first-half strike.
This is the fifth consecutive season in which the Sky Blues have reached the quarter-finals or farther in the Champions League, with last season’s final appearance being the most they have ever achieved.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has won two Champions League titles as a manager, both with Spanish giants Barcelona.
Barcelona defeated Manchester United in the finals in Rome and London in the 2008/09 and 2010/11 seasons, respectively.
Real Madrid will enter the match with a handful of injury concerns of their own.
Eden Hazard (leg), Luka Jovic (teeth), and Mariano (knock) have all been left out of the team. Despite injury concerns, Casemiro, David Alaba, and Ferland Mendy have all been included to the squad.
Man City faced Real Madrid in this competition two seasons ago, amid the coronavrius pandemic. City won 2-1 in both legs of that Round of 16 tie.
Guardiola’s team will also be aiming for a Premier League and Champions League double this season. With five games remaining, City leads Liverpool by one point at the top of the league.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Newcastle United, West Ham United, and Aston Villa are City’s final five Premier League opponents.
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Blow to Man City as they could be without three key defenders for Real Madrid Champions League encounter
