Man City's Haaland Out Before Real Madrid Clash

Star striker injured in training, will miss Premier League match against Leeds United.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 3:23am

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Manchester City will be without star striker Erling Haaland for their Premier League match against Leeds United on February 28, 2026, due to a minor injury sustained in training. The news comes at a critical juncture for the club as they chase domestic and European glory, with a crucial Champions League tie against Real Madrid on the horizon.

Why it matters

Haaland's absence is a significant setback for Manchester City, as his goal-scoring prowess has been instrumental to their success this season. His availability will be vital against Real Madrid in the Champions League, making this injury a major concern for the club.

The details

Pep Guardiola confirmed Haaland's absence in a pre-match press conference, stating the injury is 'not a big issue' but is enough to keep the Norwegian international out of the Leeds fixture. Omar Marmoush will take Haaland's place in the starting lineup, offering a different attacking dimension for City. Guardiola expressed confidence in his squad depth, noting they are 'without one top striker and we are playing with another top striker.'

  • On February 28, 2026, Haaland sustained a minor injury in the final moments of training.
  • Haaland will miss Manchester City's Premier League match against Leeds United on February 28, 2026.

The players

Erling Haaland

A star striker for Manchester City who has been instrumental to the club's success this season, leading the Premier League goalscoring charts with 22 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions.

Pep Guardiola

The manager of Manchester City, who confirmed Haaland's injury and expressed confidence in the club's squad depth to cope with the striker's absence.

Omar Marmoush

A Manchester City player who will replace Haaland in the starting lineup against Leeds United, offering a different attacking dimension for the team.

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What they’re saying

“Two days ago, in the last moments of training, he had some problems, a little injury. It's not a big issue, but he's not ready for today.”

— Pep Guardiola, Manager, Manchester City

What’s next

Haaland's condition will be monitored closely, and he is expected to be available for Manchester City's match against Nottingham Forest on March 4th. The club's focus will be on ensuring Haaland's full recovery ahead of the crucial Champions League tie against Real Madrid on March 11th.

The takeaway

This injury to Haaland highlights Manchester City's need to maintain their squad depth and adaptability, even when missing key players. The club's ability to cope without their star striker will be tested in the coming weeks as they navigate both domestic and European competitions.