Manchester City could be without captain Kevin De Bruyne in Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash with title rivals Arsenal after the Belgian was taken off at half-time during Wednesday’s Champions League match against Inter, Soccernet.football reports.
The Belgian, who missed the first half of last season due to a hamstring injury, appeared to experience some discomfort in his groin after a challenge from Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer while driving towards goal.
Pep Guardiola opted to replace De Bruyne with Ilkay Gundogan at halftime on the advice of the club’s medical team. “The doctor said to me he was not ready to play [in the second half].”
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City struggled to break down the Serie A visitors in their Champions League opener. The Nerazzurri’s well-organized midfield and defense stood strong for the entire duration of the game which eventually ended in a goalless draw.
City’s inability to penetrate Inter’s lines was no doubt compounded by De Bruyne’s absence in the second half with Guardiola’s men having to settle for a point despite their valiant efforts.
At full-time, City lacked sufficient information to determine whether the 33-year-old would be sidelined for any length of time. However, his availability for Sunday’s clash with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium remains in doubt, given the short recovery time.
The Gunners, meanwhile, have injury concerns of their own with captain Martin Odegaard expected to be out “for a while” after sustaining ankle ligament damage during international duty.
City, who currently hold a two-point lead over Arsenal could potentially extend their lead to five points, while the Gunners will be relishing the opportunity to overtake their arch nemesis and move to the top of the table.
It promises to be an intriguing game at the Etihad as a win for either side would make a huge statement, even at this early point in the 2024/2025 Premier League campaign.
