Need to know
The Champions League's opening round is set to conclude on Wednesday, with Manchester City in action against Galatasaray
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is preparing his side for Champions League action(Image: Martin Ole Wold, Getty Images)
Everything you need to know about Man City players at risk of Champions League suspension
The Three-Card Rule: A player is automatically suspended for one match after accumulating three yellow cards that did not result in a red card. This rule applies throughout the league phase and continues into the knockout rounds until the semi-final stage.
Subsequent Suspensions: Once the initial three-card threshold is met, players are then suspended for every subsequent odd-numbered caution received, such as their fifth or seventh yellow card. This prevents persistent offenders from repeatedly committing tactical fouls without further individual penalty.
Carryover to Knockouts: All single yellow cards received during the league phase are carried forward into the knockout play-offs, round of 16 and quarter-finals. This means a player entering today's matches with two bookings will miss their next European fixture if they are cautioned again.
Quarter-Final Reset: All yellow cards expire upon the completion of the quarter-finals and are not carried forward to the semi-finals. This "amnesty" ensures that no player misses the Champions League final due to a cumulative yellow card suspension.
Exceptions: While yellow cards are cleared after the quarter-finals, any suspension received during the second leg of a quarter-final must still be served in the semi-final. However, as the record is wiped clean before the semi-finals, it becomes impossible to be suspended for the final unless a player receives a red card.
Man City players at risk: Several Manchester City players have picked up two yellow cards, including Matheus Nunes, Phil Foden, Nico O'Reilly, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias. Another booking for any of these City stars would result in a suspension.
Selection headache: Rodri is already serving a suspension following his red card against Bodo/Glimt. Combined with the club's injury list, new signings Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo are also ineligible for the game, giving Pep Guardiola a selection headache.
Other stars at risk: High-profile stars such as Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) and Nuno Mendes (PSG) are each only one caution away from a one-match suspension. Should any of these players pick up a yellow card in their final league fixture, they will be forced to miss the first leg of their upcoming knockout tie.
English Clubs Under Threat: Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham also have selection concerns, with Christian Norgaard, Curtis Jones and Randal Kolo Muani each on two yellow cards, respectively. Missing these options at the beginning of the knockout phase could damage their European campaigns as squad depth becomes crucial.
Continental Stars in Jeopardy: Barcelona pair Fermin Lopez and Gerard Martin are among the other names who must steer clear of the referee's notebook on Wednesday. Likewise, Inter Milan skipper Lautaro Martínez faces risk, forcing him to be cautious against Borussia Dortmund to guarantee his availability for the next round.