Why isn’t Rodri playing for Manchester City vs. Galatasaray in the Champions League?

Manchester City have work to do against Galatasaray on Wednesday if they are to avoid the Champions League knockout phase playoffs for the second year in succession. That task becomes even harder without key midfielder Rodri, who misses the Matchday 8 clash through suspension.

Rodri suspended after Arctic Circle nightmare

The Spaniard, who has been hampered by injury issues all season, must serve a one-match ban against the Turkish champions after being sent off in City’s shock Matchday 7 defeat to Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt. Incredibly, Rodri was shown two yellow cards for tactical fouls within less than a minute of one another, neatly summing up City’s miserable trip to the Arctic Circle.

Guardiola stretched thin by absences

Pep Guardiola has a long list of absentees for the Galatasaray matchup. Defenders Rúben Dias, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol are all sidelined, as are midfielders Mateo Kovacic and Nico González and attackers Oscar Bobb and Savinho.

On top of that, January signings Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi are not eligible to play in the league phase.

What City need against Galatasaray on Matchday 8

City head into Wednesday’s game sitting 11th in the standings and needing a positive result to break into the top eight, which would secure direct qualification for the round of 16.

Guardiola’s side is one of eight teams on 13 points, with Paris Saint-Germain the best placed of that group in sixth. Even a City win against Galatasaray might not be enough, as their goal difference of +4 lags behind PSG and Newcastle (both +10), Chelsea (+6), and Barcelona and Sporting CP (both +5).

Goal difference could prove crucial

The 2023 European champions must finish above at least two of those teams. One piece of good news is that PSG and Newcastle face each other on Matchday 8, meaning both cannot win. Still, if four of the five teams above City all pick up victories, Guardiola’s men would likely need a big win over Galatasaray to make up the goal difference gap.

City also need to keep an eye over their shoulder. Atlético Madrid (+3) and Atalanta (+1) sit just behind them on 13 points and are very much part of the same congested race.

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