Man City XI vs AEK: Haaland injury latest, predicted lineup, confirmed team news for Champions League today

Man City XI vs AEK: Haaland injury latest, predicted lineup, confirmed team news for Champions League today

Star striker missed training on Monday
Enzo Maresca praises Man City despite 'strange' loss to PSG in the Champions League

Erling Haaland is a major doubt for Manchester City’s Champions League meeting with AEK Athens, though Antoine Semenyo is sidelined.

Man City’s victory over Ipswich at the weekend, extending their Premier League winning streak to seven games, came at a cost as head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed FIVE new injury scares.

Among those was Haaland as he suffered a knock during the closing stages and was not spotted in training on Monday despite a rather positive update regarding his fitness.

“He can be available,” Maresca said in the pre-match press conference. “We’ll see. We have a session now and we have some doubts after Sunday’s game.

“He was quite good yesterday. Better. So we’ll see today.

“Replacing Erling is always difficult. We have some different options and we’ll see tomorrow.

“It depends a little bit on the gameplan and also there is a chance he can be available tomorrow.”

If Haaland is not passed fit, it will leave Maresca with a selection dilemma as to who will lead the line against AEK as Semenyo - who can operate as a No9 - has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a knee injury.

Injury blow: Antoine Semenyo

As a result, Phil Foden could be used in a false nine role after scoring against Ipswich and that would open the door for Rayan Cherki to return to the side after earning a full rest at the weekend.

Youngster Floyd Samba - naturally a midfielder - is the wildcard option after scoring twice as a centre-forward on his Man City debut against Norwich in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season.

Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson are expected to be recalled in central midfield, while Mateo Kovacic, Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes should be fit after limping off against Ipswich.

With a Saturday lunchtime kick-off away at Aston Villa looming, Maresca could look to rotate where possible and that could mean starts for the likes of Abdukodir Khusanov, Rico Lewis and Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Donnarumma; Lewis, Khusanov, Guehi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernandez; Ndiaye, Cherki, Ait-Nouri; Foden.

Time and date: 8pm BST on Tuesday, October 20, 2026

How to watch: TNT Sports

Original source Man City XI vs AEK: Haaland injury latest, predicted lineup, confirmed team news for Champions League today

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