Manchester Metropolis are enjoying an necessary match within the league part of the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League. They host Bayer Leverkusen searching for a win that might enhance their place within the standings as they chase qualification for the spherical of 16. Regardless of the importance of the matchup, Erling Haaland is just not within the beginning XI.
Head coach Pep Guardiola determined to relaxation a number of necessary gamers for this European match, contemplating the heavy workload some stars have carried since final week’s FIFA break. For that cause, Haaland is on the bench together with different key gamers.
Much like the Norwegian striker, Guardiola gave relaxation on Tuesday to a number of workforce stars whose bodily preservation is a precedence heading into the decisive phases of the season. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden are among the many gamers who didn’t begin the match and will as an alternative come on from the bench.
Manchester Metropolis can afford to be with out a few of their finest gamers as a result of they’ve loved a powerful begin to the Champions League. They secured three wins and one draw of their first 4 matches, inserting them in place for direct qualification to the spherical of 16. In truth, a victory at residence this Tuesday in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen would depart them, not less than till tomorrow, as the only leaders of the standings with 13 factors.
Manchester Metropolis coach Pep Guardiola.
Manchester Metropolis with out Haaland
With Haaland on the bench, Pep Guardiola opted to interchange him with a participant of various traits: Omar Marmoush. The Egyptian ahead, whereas typically deployed as a middle ahead, additionally has the flexibility to play as a winger and even deeper. His bodily profile and elegance of play make him a really completely different possibility from Haaland.
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watch Manchester Metropolis vs Bayer Leverkusen within the USA: Stay Stream and TV for 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League
The Residents’ lineup contains different gamers who haven’t usually been common starters in current instances, comparable to Oscar Bobb and Savinho on the wings. They’re joined in midfield by Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez, serving because the inventive gamers.
The influence of Haaland at Manchester Metropolis
Having Erling Haaland out of the beginning XI is an uncommon state of affairs for the Residents. In truth, till now the Norwegian striker had began each match for the workforce this season in main tournaments. Earlier than this Tuesday, he had began all 4 Champions League video games, scoring a complete of 5 objectives.
Haaland’s numbers within the Premier League are comparable. There, he has began all 12 matches to date, recording 14 objectives and one help. That makes him the league’s high scorer in England, holding a transparent benefit over Brentford’s Igor Thiago, who has 9.
Within the present 2025–26 marketing campaign, Haaland has missed solely two matches for Manchester Metropolis. Each got here within the Carabao Cup, the place Guardiola’s workforce didn’t want their largest star to get previous lower-level opponents: they defeated Huddersfield and Swansea by scores of two–0 and three–1, respectively, to advance to the quarterfinals, the place they may face Brentford.
