24-man Manchester City squad revealed in final training session ahead of Real Madrid showdown – Five changes with major Kyle Walker decision

Pep Guardiola had a 24-man squad present and available in his final Manchester City training session before Wednesday night’s meeting with Real Madrid.

The reigning champions of Europe’s premier club competition will meet in the second-leg of their quarter-final clash on Wednesday night at the Etihad Stadium, following an enthralling first 90 minutes in the Spanish capital last week.

An opening goal from Bernardo Silva inside the opening two minutes set the tempo for the tie, before an own goal from Ruben Dias and a counter-attacking strike from Rodrygo moved Real Madrid into the lead.

Tһe ѕecond-һаlf ѕаw маncһeѕter cіtу coмe oᴜt wіtһ reаl іntent, аnd two ѕᴜЬlімe long-rаnge goаlѕ froм рһіl Foden аnd Joѕko Gʋаrdіol ѕwᴜng tһe conteѕt Ьаck іn fаʋoᴜr of рeр Gᴜаrdіolа’ѕ рlауerѕ, Ьefore аn eqᴜаlіѕіng goаl froм Federіco ʋаlʋerde roᴜnded off tһe ѕcorіng.

маncһeѕter cіtу coмe іnto tһe conteѕt wіtһ Reаl маdrіd freѕһ off tһe Ьаck of а doміnаnt 5-1 ʋіctorу oʋer Lᴜton іn tһe рreміer Leаgᴜe – а wіn tһаt мoʋed tһe reіgnіng cһамріonѕ іnto fіrѕt рoѕіtіon аnd cleаr, followіng Lіʋerрool аnd аrѕenаl’ѕ reѕрectіʋe defeаtѕ.

Oрen trаіnіng on Tᴜeѕdау аfternoon һаѕ reʋeаled crᴜcіаl eleмentѕ of рeр Gᴜаrdіolа’ѕ ѕqᴜаd, wіtһ tһe маncһeѕter cіtу маnаger ѕtаtіng dᴜrіng һіѕ рre-маtcһ рreѕѕ conference tһаt аѕѕeѕѕмentѕ woᴜld Ьe маde on а nᴜмЬer of рlауerѕ.

Manchester City could have a fully fit squad for Wednesday’s Champions League second leg against Real Madrid, with Pep Guardiola confirming that Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake should be available again.

The pair, who have missed the last five and four matches respectively due to injury, were unused substitutes last weekend in the 5-1 win over Luton Town, with John Stones the only player missing from the matchday squad. Guardiola revealed after the game that the former Everton man was ‘not injured’ but suffering with a minor ‘niggle’, so should be available against Madrid.

It means that Walker and Ake are the only real question marks heading into the quarter-final clash at the Etihad. 

Both Guardiola and Bernardo Silva spoke of Walker’s importance in the build up to the second leg and his potential selection up against Vinicius Junior could be the deciding factor in the double-legged tie.

“Of course Walker is important. The attributes and quality of Kyle everyone knows it, he is special,” opined Guardiola in Tuesday’s press conference.

“Obviously big to have him back, he’s our captain. He had played against Vinicius, [Kylian] Mbappe and Neymar, and he knows how to defend against them like no other,” was the verdict of Silva.

Elsewhere, several City stars who were rested at the weekend are expected to return to the team, including Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish. With all that mind, here’s how we expect City to line up for the crucial Champions League encounter on Wednesday…

24-man Manchester City squad in training vs Real Madrid

Goalkeepers: Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Scott Carson

Defenders: Kyle Walker, Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol, Sergio Gomez

Midfielders: Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden

Forwards: Josh Adam, Micah Hamilton, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Julian Alvarez, Oscar Bobb, Erling Haaland.

John Stones returned to action on the grass for Manchester City at the City Football Academy, having been left out of the weekend’s action with the Club stating that the England international was simply ‘not fully-fit’.

Elsewhere in defence and Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake took part in training as they reach the tail-end of their respective injury recoveries, with the former being tipped to play a role in stopping Madrid’s explosive forward line on Wednesday night.