Haaland on bench for Man City at Real Madrid
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is not fit enough to start against Real Madrid on Wednesday in the Champions League play-off round.
The Norwegian sustained a knock on Saturday when City beat Newcastle in the Premier League and was named on the bench by Pep Guardiola at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Haaland scored twice in the first leg last week but Manchester City lost to the record 15-time European champions 3-2 at home.
Guardiola selected Omar Marmoush up front in place of Haaland after the January transfer window arrival netted a hat-trick in the 4-0 demolition of Newcastle.
Your City team to take on Real Madrid 🩵
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 19, 2025
XI | Ederson, Khusanov, Stones, Dias (C), Gvardiol, Nico, Gundogan, Bernardo, Foden, Savinho, Marmoush
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Carson, Ake, Kovacic, Haaland, Grealish, Doku, De Bruyne, Nunes, Lewis, McAtee#ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/qn1W7ZBZyz
City also start with new arrivals Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov in the side.
Real Madrid were able to name Antonio Rudiger in defence after injury, with Aurelien Tchouameni restored to his preferred midfield position.
Haaland scored twice in the first leg last week but Manchester City lost to the record 15-time European champions 3-2 at home.
Guardiola selected Omar Marmoush up front in place of Haaland after the January transfer window arrival netted a hat-trick in the 4-0 demolition of Newcastle.
City also start with new arrivals Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov in the side.
Real Madrid were able to name Antonio Rudiger in defence after injury, with Aurelien Tchouameni restored to his preferred midfield position.
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