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Manchester City's players train on eve of Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid

kencitymediagh
Apr 26, 2016
2 min read

Manuel Pellegrini's men are preparing for one of the biggest nights in the club's history against the 10-time European champions

Manchester City's players prepared at the club's training complex on Monday ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Yaya Toure was a notable absentee and Manuel Pellegrini expects him to miss the match due to the muscle injury he picked up against Stoke at the weekend.

Winger Raheem Sterling trained and could feature after returning against Newcastle last week following a month-long lay-off with a thigh problem.

City boss Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed Fernando and Fernandinho will start in midfield against Los Blancos.

Kevin De Bruyne and co takes part in a training game

Manuel Pellegrini watches on as his players prepare for Tuesday's huge match

City goes into the game with no absentees other than Yaya Toure

“I think Yaya is going to be out, he has not recovered from the muscle injury," Pellegrini said.

“The two Brazilian lads have played well whenever they have played together, against Roma and when we knocked PSG out this season, so I am very confident what they can provide for us."

Vincent Kompany will start at centre-back after he was rested for Saturday's win over Stoke.

The Belgian has struggled with a number of muscle injuries this season but insists he is fully fit for

City are in the last four of the Champions League for the first time in their history

Kompany said: “I'm 100 per cent. Everything went well. As always, unfortunately when you are injured, you're having to work a lot harder than the rest and that's what I did.

"It's massive [the Real Madrid game]. I have been through a very long process with this team, so playing for it in itself is something good, but you want to go to the next stage.

"It's great to face Real Madrid and to see how far you have come after all these years."