Real Madrid superstar ruled out of Manchester City clash with ruptured internal meniscus
The UEFA Champions League quarter-final meeting between Real Madrid and Manchester City has been affected by it’s first major injury problem.
Pep Guardiola’s reigning Champions of Europe will face Los Blancos across two matches at the quarter-final stage of this season’s competition, having cruised past FC Copenhagen with a 6-2 aggregate scoreline in the last-16.
The meeting between the two English and Spanish mega clubs follows on from last season’s enthralling semi-final meeting, as Manchester City progressed with a 5-1 aggregate outcome after a 4-0 home win over Carlo Ancelotti’s clubs.
While both teams will be desperate to reach the tie in early/mid-April with the strongest possible squad, it is the hosts of the first-leg tie that has succumbed to their first fitness setback following a problem sustained by their mainstay goalkeeper.
As per confirmation from journalist Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid’s number one choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has ruptured his internal meniscus of the right knee, and is expected to be out for the next two months.
The ongoing 2023/24 season is now likely to be over for the Belgium international goalkeeper, who had just recovered from ACL injury.
Manchester City are moving closer towards a fully-fit squad a crucial phase of the season, with Jack Grealish becoming the latest player to make a return to the matchday roster following a reoccurrence of a groin problem.
Grealish sustained another setback during the FA Cup fifth round tie at Luton Town, and Manchester City opted to grant the England international an extended period away from the club to ensure that a repeat of the issue would not emerge.
Elsewhere and there is some concern over Kevin De Bruyne, however his omission from the Belgium international squad will likely give him enough time to return to action against Arsenal after the ongoing international break.
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Decision made by panel on controversial penalty incident during Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City
The Key Match Incidents panel has made a decision on the incident involving Jeremy Doku and Alexis Mac Allister during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
The Premier League title rivals played out a hotly-contested stalemate at Anfield earlier this month, keeping both sides behind Arsenal in the English top-flight table, with Mikel Arteta’s side travelling to the Etihad Stadium in the next outing.
John Stones put Manchester City ahead on Merseyside with a well-worked corner-kick routine, before an Ederson foul on Darwin Nunez presented Alexis Mac Allister with the opportunity to equalise from the spot, which the Argentine converted with ease.
While the game appeared to be heading towards a close, despite good opportunities for the likes of Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden, the former appeared – in the eyes of some – to have fouled goalscorer Mac Allister inside the Manchester City penalty area.
Despite the hosts’ best claims, and post-match frustration from manager Jurgen Klopp, Michael Oliver adjudged Doku to have claimed the ball fairly, waiving away penalty claims and ultimately signalling the end of the contest with the points shared.
Now, as per The Times this week, the Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel have ruled that on-field referee Oliver was correct not to give a penalty to Liverpool during the eventual 1-1 draw with Manchester City in early March when Jérémy Doku looked to have caught Alexis Mac Allister.
The verdict from the KMI panel read, “The panel were split (3:2) with the majority supporting the on-field no penalty decision. A genuine attempt to play the ball… with both players coming into contact with each other as a result.
“Doku is just about entitled to challenge for the ball and, despite making contact with Mac Allister’s chest, he makes contact with the ball. Two panelists felt that the on-field decision was incorrect and a penalty should have been awarded as ‘Mac Allister gets there first.”
The ruling continued, “‘Doku’s foot is high and makes clear contact with his studs on MacAllister’s chest’. The majority of the panel (4:1) supported the VAR’s decision to not intervene but one panelist felt the VAR was incorrect to not intervene for a clear and obvious error.”
Manchester City’s Premier League title showdowns continue after the ongoing international break, as they welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium, with the winner of the contest putting down the ultimate statement of intent heading into the business end of the campaign.
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