Why Kevin De Bruyne is only on the bench for Man City at Real Madrid

Kevin De Bruyne has to make do with a place on the bench at Real Madrid (Picture: Getty Images)

Kevin De Bruyne is on the bench for Manchester City at Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night, suffering with ‘stomach problems’ ahead of the contest.

De Bruyne scored twice as City beat Crystal Palace 4-2 on Saturday but has been left out of the starting line-up at the Santiago Bernabeu as he is unwell.

Asked about the Belgian’s absence, Guardiola told TNT Sports: ‘Vomits. He feels unwell. We make a meeting and he was ready, when he arrive here in the locker room he started to vomit, feels unwell and he said “I’m not ready.”

‘It is what it is. Of course it’s not good news.’

Also on the bench is goalkeeper Ederson, who was out injured for a month with a hamstring problem but was back on the bench in that win at Palace and playing in Madrid seemed likely.

However, the Brazilian remains on the bench, with Stefan Ortega holding onto his place between the sticks in the iconic venue.

With De Bruyne out of the line-up, Rodri and Matteo Kovacic start in central midfield behind Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, with Erling Haaland up front.

Ederson is back from injury but not in the starting XI (Picturehoto by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Kyle Walker remains out injured with Manuel Akanji starting at right-back, John Stones and Ruben Dias in the middle of defence and Josko Gvardiol on the left.

City’s incredibly strong bench not only features De Bruyne and Ederson, but also the likes of Jeremy Doku, Julian Alvarez, Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes.

Real Madrid XI: Lunin, Carvajal, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Mendy, Kroos, Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo.

Subs: Kepa, Fran, Militao, Nacho, Modric, Joselu, Vazquez, Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Diaz, Guler.

Man City XI: Ortega, Akanji, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, Kovacic, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Haaland.

Subs: Ederson, Carson, Doku, De Bruyne, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Susoho, Lewis.

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