Manchester City faces an uphill battle in their second-leg Champions League playoff against Real Madrid on February 18 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Pep Guardiola’s side trails 3-2 from the first leg, and their task just got even tougher with fresh injury concerns looming over Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji.
Guardiola Braces for Major Selection Issues
Speaking after City’s recent fixture, Guardiola admitted that both Grealish and Akanji are likely to miss the return leg in Madrid.
“I don’t know yet, but if they have gone out for muscular reasons, maybe they will not be there [for the next two games],” Guardiola said.
Losing Akanji would be particularly painful for City. The Swiss defender played a key role at right-back in the first leg, helping contain Vinicius Jr. before being subbed off at halftime. His replacement, Rico Lewis, struggled to deal with the Brazilian’s pace and dribbling, raising concerns over City’s defensive solidity.
On the attacking front, Grealish’s absence could limit Guardiola’s offensive options, especially with City needing at least one goal to turn the tie around. The English winger provides crucial ball retention and creativity on the left wing, which could be a major miss against Madrid’s counter-attacking prowess.
What Are Guardiola’s Options?
With Akanji sidelined, Guardiola may be forced to start Kyle Walker at right-back—but the Englishman has also had fitness concerns this season. Alternatively, Joško Gvardiol or John Stones could play a hybrid role in defense.
For Grealish’s replacement, Guardiola has several options:
- Jeremy Doku: Offers direct pace and dribbling, but lacks Grealish’s ability to control the tempo.
- Phil Foden: Could shift wide, with Julián Álvarez playing centrally behind Erling Haaland.
Can City Overcome the Bernabéu Factor?
Real Madrid has historically dominated Champions League knockout ties at the Bernabéu, often pulling off late heroics. Carlo Ancelotti’s side holds a slight advantage, and Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham will look to exploit any defensive weaknesses in City’s backline.
City, however, will take confidence from their previous triumph in Madrid, where they secured a 1-1 draw in last season’s semifinal before dismantling Real 4-0 at the Etihad. If they can weather the storm early and find their rhythm, Guardiola’s men still have the firepower to turn the tie in their favor.
All eyes will be on Guardiola’s Friday press conference, where an official update on Akanji and Grealish could determine how City approaches their biggest test of the season.