By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 21:45 BST, 21 October 2025 | Updated: 21:46 BST, 21 October 2025
VILLARREAL, Spain (AP) - First Rodri, now Nico Gonzalez.
Manchester City lost another holding midfielder to injury after Gonzalez hobbled off with a right leg problem early in the second half of the Champions League match at Villarreal on Tuesday.
Gonzalez has been filling in for fellow Spaniard [Rodri](https://apnews.com/article/rodri-man-city-injury-2f51b73792fee7868a116a0ba96dd1cd), who is currently sidelined by a hamstring injury after missing most of last season with ACL damage.
Mateo Kovacic came on as a substitute for Gonzalez in the 56th minute, having only recently returned from injury himself.
Goals from Erling Haaland - his 53rd in 51 Champions League games - and Bernardo Silva gave City a 2-0 lead at halftime.
\_\_\_
Villarreal's Santi Comesana, bottom left, challenges for the ball with Manchester City's Nico Gonzalez during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Manchester City in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
AP soccer: [https://apnews.com/hub/soccer](https://apnews.com/hub/soccer)