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Manchester City face Real Madrid on Wednesday full of confidence after a 3-0 victory over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium
Manchester City enjoyed a more comfortable 90 minutes on Saturday as they piled the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. Ruben Dias' thunderbolt got Pep Guardiola's side off to the best possible start against Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.
Josko Gvardiol then scored a header from a corner. The three points were wrapped up when Rayan Cherki produced a sensational rabona cross for Phil Foden to head home and close the gap on Mikel Arteta's side to two points.
There was a brief concern for Matheus Nunes, who was left in pain after a bad challenge from Luke O'Nien. The Sunderland man was sent off for the tackle and fortunately it appears there were no serious consequences for Nunes, who managed to complete the full match for Guardiola's men.
MEN Sport has rounded up the latest injury news and potential return dates for the squad ahead of the clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday at the Bernabeu.
Rodri
Injury: Hamstring
Rodri missed the game against Sunderland but Guardiola said he was feeling better. He said: "We want him. There are irreplaceable players, not just for how good they play, it’s what they do for the other ones. The others say, 'oh I have Rodri there' and they give him the ball and know he won’t lose (it).
"He knows when the space is free, to switch play, he’s unique. I want desperately for him to come back. In Madrid and the next one but then six more weeks out. It makes no sense. I want to be sure.
"When he comes back, he has to make a pre-season. He cannot play 90 minutes, 90 minutes, 90 minutes. When you injure your ACL, your body is completely different."
Potential return date: January 2026
Mateo Kovacic
Injury: Ankle
Kovacic remains a long-term injury concern for City as they head towards the busy festive period. In his last update on the midfielder's situation, Guardiola confirmed Kovacic's return could come in the latter stages of the campaign.
He said: "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."
Potential return date: February 2026
John Stones
Injury: Unknown
Stones was not in the squad for the win over Sunderland and Guardiola confirmed after the game that he was missing through injury. He will miss the tie with Real Madrid having not trained on Tuesday.
Potential return date: Unknown
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