MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City faces a new injury concern for Kevin de Bruyne ahead of a showdown with Premier League title rival Arsenal after the playmaker was substituted at halftime of Wednesday’s Champions League match against Inter Milan.
The Belgium international looked in discomfort after making a run late in the first half. After receiving treatment, De Bruyne didn’t return for the second half and was replaced by Ilkay Gundogan. The game ended 0-0.
City hosts title rival Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
City manager Pep Guardiola said he didn’t know the extent of De Bruyne’s injury, but was informed by the club doctor the playmaker could not carry on in the second half.
“I didn’t speak with the doctors yet,” Guardiola said about De Bruyne’ availability for the weekend. “(He will be) Assessed tonight, maybe tomorrow. We will have more info tomorrow.”
De Bruyne endured an injury-disrupted campaign last season when he was sidelined from August to January with a hamstring problem. He returned to help the club secure a record fourth straight English title.
He has started every game this season and scored in City’s 4-1 win against Ipswich last month.
City held off challenges from Arsenal in each of the last two seasons to lift the title. The north London club is expected to be City’s main rival again this term.
Arsenal has its own injury problems ahead of the game after captain Martin Odegaard was ruled out with ankle ligament damage.
Without De Bruyne, City failed to find a breakthrough against Inter and was shut out at home in the Champions League for the first time since a 0-0 draw with Sporting Lisbon in March 2022.
It was only the second time in all competitions since then that Guardiola’s team failed to score at home — the other coming in a 0-0 with Arsenal in the league in March.
City extended its unbeaten home run in European games to 32, dating back to a 2-1 loss to Lyon in 2018.
Haaland locked on 99
Erling Haaland has looked unstoppable this season with nine goals in his first four games of the campaign before Wednesday match. But that run was snapped by Inter with the Norway striker stuck on 99 goals for City.
Haaland also failed to score against the Italians when the teams met in the Champions League final in 2023, which City won 1-0 to lift the trophy for the first time in its history.
“They are masters of defending,” Guardiola said.
Guardiola’s future
With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Guardiola sounds like he’s still loving life at City.
Asked by an Italian journalist if he could see himself working in Italy in the future, Guardiola said: “I really enjoy being here. I love English football, it is fantastic, really enjoyable. They leave you alone to get on with the job. That doesn’t happen anywhere else.
“It’s a great club. I really feel good being here.”
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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