Erling Haaland has been dropped to the bench for Manchester City‘s crucial Champions League playoff second-leg clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday.
City are in need of firepower in attack as they seek to overturn a 3-2 deficit from the first leg. However, manager Pep Guardiola opted to leave club top scorer Haaland, who has made only five substitute appearances in his City career, on the bench.
The last time Haaland came on as a sub was April 28, 2024, against Nottingham Forest when he scored in a 3-0 win.
Haaland scored against Madrid for the first time in their previous meeting — with two sides having met in the Champions League knockout stages in each of the past three years.
The Norway international has eight goals in nine games in the Champions League season, the third-best mark in the competition.
