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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jonathan Gorrie

Nathan Ake injury: Man City forced to leave defender out of Champions League squad for Real Madrid clash

Nathan Ake has been left out of the Manchester City squad who travel to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Dutchman has been a key player this season after previously struggling for regular game time, establishing himself as a mainstay despite interest from Chelsea in the summer.

Ake has made 30 starts across all competitions this season having ousted Aymeric Laporte for a starting berth in City’s three-man backline alongside Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji.

Still, the 28-year-old – who had only recently returned from a hamstring injury – was forced off during City’s 2-1 win over Leeds on Saturday.

Kyle Walker was quickly called upon to deputise and looks favourite to do so again inside Santiago Bernabeu as Guardiola chases the one trophy to have eluded him at City thus far.

Madrid, meanwhile, have been handed a boost with Luka Modric fit to play after his recent knock.

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