Overview
- The defender was not involved in Tuesday’s first-team session before the flight to Madrid, leaving his participation against Real Madrid in serious doubt.
- Pep Guardiola confirmed after the 3-0 win over Sunderland that Stones is injured and said he does not know how long he will be out.
- Rodri remains unavailable with a hamstring issue as City manage a careful return-to-play process on the training pitch.
- Mateo Kovacic is still sidelined by an ankle problem that Guardiola expects to keep him out for a while, with a return anticipated later in the season.
- Stones’ setback extends an 18-month pattern of interruptions, increasing reliance on City’s defensive depth for the Bernabéu trip.