Man City vs. Real Madrid lineups, starting 11, confirmed team news, injuries: Gonzalez unclear, Ancelotti defensive crisis

Manchester City and Real Madrid resume their UEFA Champions League rivalry at the Etihad Stadium.

This matchup marks the fourth consecutive season in which the two giants have met, with the winner of the tie going on to lift the trophy on the previous three occasions.

That feels like a big ask this time around, with patchy form from both preseason favourites plunging them into the knockout playoffs to do battle, while only one will reach the Round of 16.

Injuries have played a part in each team’s struggles, and one of them is still nursing a troubling list of defensive absentees.

The Sporting News runs through the latest team news, injury updates and confirmed lineups for this blockbuster clash.

WATCH: UEFA Champions League with a FREE trial of Paramount+ in USA | A new era of UEFA Champions League in Australia, only on Stan Sport

Man City vs. Real Madrid lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news

There appears to finally be light at the end of the tunnel for Man City in terms of the injuries that have decimated their season, with long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb the only men missing from Tuesday’s open training session.

Nico Gonzalez had his debut in Saturday’s FA Cup win over Leyton Orient curtailed when he took a heavy blow to the hip, but the former Barcelona youngster has recovered to take a place on the bench. In his absence, John Stones will take on holding midfield duties.

Ruben Dias made his injury return at the weekend and Nathan Ake will do likewise alongside the Portugal international, with Manuel Akanji slotting over to right-back

Kevin De Bruyne, Savinho, and Jack Grealish all start as support attackers behind Erling Haaland, with the Englishman starting a first non-FA Cup game since the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa before Christmas. Phil Foden and Omar Marmoush have to be content with spots on the bench.

Man City (4-1-4-1, right to left): Ederson (GK) — Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol — Stones — Savinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Grealish—Haaland.

Man City subs: Ortega (GK), Marmoush, Kovacic, Doku, Gonzalez, Gundogan, Nunes, Khusanov, Foden, O’Reilly, Lewis, McAtee.

Injured: Rodri (ACL), Bobb (ankle).
Suspended: None.

MORE: All the latest Real Madrid news | Latest La Liga top goal scorer list | Latest Champions League top goal scorer list

Lucas Vazquez compounded Real Madrid’s defensive injury crisis when he suffered a hamstring injury in the weekend draw against Atletico Madrid. He joins Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and long-term victims Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao on the sidelines.

Federico Valverde has been selected to provide a makeshift solution at right-back, which has a knock-on effect in midfield. Eduardo Camavinga made an ahead-of-schedule return from the bench against Atleti and is in from the start to partner Dani Ceballos. Jude Bellingham is the No. 10 and Luka Modric drops to the bench.

Bellingham, Modric, Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Endrick are all at risk of suspension for accumulation the next time they pick up a booking.

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Valverde, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy — Ceballos, Camavinga — Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr —Mbappe.

Real Madrid subs: Lunin (GK), Modric, Arda Guler, Endrick, Vallejo, Garcia, Brahim, Gonzalo, Ramon, Chema, Aguado.

Injured: Militao (ACL), Carvajal (ACL), Rudiger (thigh), Alaba (muscular), Vazquez (hamstring).
Suspended: None.

MORE: All the latest Champions League news | How does the 2024/25 Champions League work? | Full UCL match schedule

Man City vs. Real Madrid live stream, TV channel

Here’s how to watch this UEFA Champions League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions: