Man City: Pep Guardiola explains dropping De Bruyne vs Real Madrid | Football | Sport

Gvardiol starting ensures that Manuel Akanji can operate on the right and mark Madrid talisman Vinicius Jr, with Kovacic and Rodri hoping to nullify Jude Bellingham through the middle.

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.

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.