Trouble for Pep Guardiola? Three key Man City defenders miss training ahead of Real Madrid Champions League clash

As Pep Guardiola's side prepares to take on the record Champions League winners at the Santiago Bernabeu, they have had three defenders sit out training on Monday morning, in the form of Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker as per the BBC's Simon Stone. The latter two were already doubts for the Madrid clash after their specific issues during the international break, however, Gvadiol was the newest addition to the list after he was hooked off during Man City's 4-2 win over Crystal Palace on the weekend.

As they have been involved in a tense title fight in the Premier League against Liverpool and Arsenal this season, Man City have had their squad stretched thin due to the sheer demand on the players. The schedule has not been kind to the treble winners as they also had to play in the Club World Cup in December and now are going deep in all competitions yet again.

While Walker and Ake are unlikely to return for the first leg of the quarter-final, Gvardiol could be declared fit ahead of the clash as Guardiola described his issue as a 'little problem' after the Crystal Palace match, as per The Standard.

The defending champions of the Champions League will head to the Spanish capital to take on Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, April 9.