Manchester City have suffered a fresh injury blow ahead of their UEFA Champions League playoff second leg tie with Real Madrid next week.

Man City defender, Manuel Akanji has been ruled out of the Real Madrid clash at the Santiago Bernabeu due to a mascular injury.

Recall that Akanji was replaced at half-time in City’s Champions League playoff first leg 3-2 defeat against Real at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

The Cityzens will face the Los Blancos in the second leg next Wednesday before hosting Liverpool on Sunday, 23 February.

Man City manager Pep Guardiola was not asked about Akanji in the aftermath of the game against Madrid but is expected to offer an update on Friday before his side’s Premier League game with Newcastle on Saturday.

However, according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Akanji has been ruled out of City’s immediate matches.

“Manuel Akanji will miss the second leg vs Real Madrid with an injury,” Romano wrote on X.

“Akanji has been ruled out for a few weeks with a muscular injury, per

@hirstclass.”

Guardiola will have to pick who to feature from the likes of John Stones, Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias in the absence of the Switzerland centre-back.