National World Top Stories Update Monday 8 December, 2025
Manchester City have a handful of doubts for this week’s big Champions League tie.
The Premier League giants currently sit second in the league, two points behind Arsenal and one ahead of Aston Villa.
Last time out, Man City smashed Sunderland 3-0 at home, after narrowly beating Fulham in a 4-3 thriller at Craven Cottage mid-week.
John Stones will likely not feature in Man City’s clash with Real Madrid this week.placeholder image
John Stones will likely not feature in Man City’s clash with Real Madrid this week. | Getty Images
This week, manager Pep Guardiola turns his attenion to the Champions League, with a massive fixture on the cards. Man City will travel to Spain on Wednesday, December 10 to play aganst Real Madrid.
Los Blancos are fifth in the Champions League table, having lost one game in their first five; Man City are ninth, having lost one match and drawing another. Guardiola’s side were beaten in their most recent fixture by Bayer Leverkusen, the club previously managed by new Madrid gaffer Xabi Alonso.
Unfortunately for Man City, there are a hat-trick of key players who could miss out on the mid-week fixture; here’s what we know about their injuries thus far.
John Stones
Absent from the squad entirely for Man City’s win against Sunderland at the weekend, very little is currently known about the nature of John Stones’ injury.
Guardiola confirmed after the match that he was missing due to an injury, but did not say much else - aside from that he “didn’t know” when the England international will be back on the pitch.
The 31-year-old is therefore a significant doubt for the Real Madrid clash.
Rodri
The former Ballon d’Or winner is still sidelined, and Guardiola is hesitant to bring him back into the fold after his season-ending ACL injury last campaign.
Out with a hamstring injury, the 29-year-old won’t be back for at least another few weeks.
Guardiola said: “It was a muscular injury against Brentford, in a high-tendon muscular hamstring area. He's a bit more careful.
“Previous ones, when he stepped back, we had to be more cautious and have no more prevention but make sure it is safe.
“The process of recovery is doing well. He start to make training sessions on the pitch already. So hopefully in a few weeks, it can start."
Mateo Kovacic
Ruled out with an ankle injury, Kovacic will not be returning to the pitch for another few months, Guardiola said.
The Man City boss added: “He will be out for a while. He still has a problem with the ankle, a little calcification still there. We'll wait on him for the last part of the season.”
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