Manchester City are back in Champions League action tomorrow night and are looking to secure their first win in the competition.
Manchester City were held by Inter a couple of weeks ago, with the Italian giants defending solidly at the Etihad Stadium.
The goalless draw means Pep Guardiola‘s side are currently sitting in 20th place in the new 36-team league table.
It’s Slovan Bratislava up next for City, and it will be interesting to see how many changes Pep will make.
The Slovakian side are currently top of their domestic league, winning seven out of their eight games so far.
But in the Champions League, they were humbled 5-1 by Celtic in their first game, and City are expected to beat them with relative ease.
And there is good news for Guardiola heading into the clash, with Erling Haaland all fine after a brief scare at the weekend.
Erling Haaland spotted training as normal ahead of Man City’s game with Slovan Bratislava
It was a relatively quiet day at the office for Haaland against Newcastle, which had perhaps been due.
The Norwegian has been in scintillating form so far this season, scoring 10 goals in the Premier League in just six appearances.
Only Inter had kept him at bay before the weekend. But Newcastle became the second side to keep him out.
He was well marshalled by Dan Burn, but the defender did leave a scrape on Haaland’s ankle, and after the game Pep admitted that the number nine had sustained some knocks. He said that we would see in the ‘next days’ how he’d be ahead of the game with Slovan.
City fans have been buoyed today by new pictures of the squad in training ahead of tomorrow night’s game, with Haaland involved as normal.
Haaland could also be heard saying ‘they’re not doing it properly’, possibly at some of his teammates.
Seemingly, there has been no lasting damage to his ankle.
Haaland will be keen to get off the mark in the Champions League, a competition he famously loves. So far, he has 41 goals in just 40 games.
Relief for City
Thankfully Haaland appears to be fine to face Slovan tomorrow night and there are no issues with the ankle.
Of course, City do not have another out-and-out striker in their squad following the sale of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid in the summer.
So it’s always a concern when there is talk of even just a knock for £51 million signing Haaland.
Obviously, he is devastating so any time he’s not on the field, City are much less of a goal threat. Especially when a top creator like Kevin De Bruyne is also missing.
It would be good for Haaland to get off the mark in this season’s Champions League tomorrow night.
After blanking against Newcastle, fans can bet he will be like a man possessed trying to score.
