Pep Guardiola confirmed in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference that Erling Haaland will miss Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Sevilla. The 22-year-old picked up a knock in last Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Borussia Dortmund and missed Saturday’s 1-0 win over Leicester City.
Haaland was also believed to be struggling with influenza prior to the ligament injury, so he hasn’t been 100% for a week or so. And with the Norwegian international having a history of injuries during his time at Dortmund, Guardiola won’t want to risk exacerbating the problem by bringing him back too soon.
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Guardiola said: “Tomorrow he is not available. He feels better compared to Saturday and Sunday but he is not 100% and we don’t want to take a risk, it makes no sense. Every day he is feeling better.” Haaland has made 16 appearances in all competitions, scoring 22 goals with three assists.
City don’t have another prolific goalscorer in his absence, so Pep will hope he isn’t out for too long. Julian Alvarez got the nod in attack against Leicester and is likely to start up front on Wednesday, but he has a point to prove after poor form.
Haaland probably won’t have started against Sevilla even if he was fit, as City can afford to ring the changes due to them already sealing qualification as group winners. Guardiola is likely to use the midweek clash as a chance to give out-of-favour players a run out, so the Norwegian may have been rested regardless.
In other news, Cole Palmer could start against Sevilla if he’s fit and available
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