Bad news for Real Madrid as Man City should be even stronger for classic Champions League rematch

Manchester City were unplayable for the opening half-hour of their Champions League classic against Real Madrid. And the bad news for the Spanish aristocrats is that - barring an injury disaster against Leeds on Saturday - they should be even stronger for the return leg in the Bernabeu next week.

The news that both John Stones and Kyle Walker trained with the squad on Tuesday, ahead of the first leg, despite being absent for the opening 15 minutes of the session, when the media were present, puts a new complexion on the trip to Spain. Pep Guardiola took a chance on Stones, who only lasted 36 minutes before feeling his tight hamstring again, resulting in Fernandinho stepping into the right-back role.

That meant City ended the game with only centre-back pairing Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte from their regular back four, with Oleks Zinchenko slotting in at left back. Zinchenko and Fernandinho did extremely well, but there is a real prospect that the Blues could have first-choice full-back pair Walker and Joao Cancelo back next week.

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Walker should have a week of training to get ready after damaging his ankle a fortnight ago, while Cancelo is again available after serving a one-match suspension for his yellow card in that game. Even if Walker does not prove to be fit, Zinchenko has shown he is not just reliable but is also a sharp and positive asset in his current frame of mind.

The extent of Stones’ injury is unclear and as City’s best-performing centre back in recent weeks, his absence would not be good news, but Laporte and Dias are a well-balanced and trusted partnership. All of which means that City’s defence should be stronger, and their shape more recognisable, for