Blow for City: Manuel Akanji to Miss Second Leg Against Real Madrid

Manchester City and Real Madrid faced off in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League tie, with City suffering a 2-3 defeat. However, the bad news doesn't stop there for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Details: According to The Times journalist Paul Hirst, City's central defender Manuel Akanji will miss the decisive second leg against Los Blancos due to injury. The Swiss defender has suffered a muscle injury and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

Akanji picked up the injury during the first-leg clash against Real Madrid, which forced him to be substituted at halftime for Rico Lewis. Initial tests suggested that the Swiss international could be out for up to three months, dealing a significant blow to City's defensive options ahead of the crucial return fixture.

This season, Akanji has featured in 30 matches across all competitions.

Reminder: In the match against Real, winger Jack Grealish also picked up an injury.