Manchester City enters their final Champions League league match with five players facing potential suspensions for the knockout stages if they receive another yellow card.
Manchester City faces a disciplinary dilemma tonight at the Etihad as they conclude their Champions League league phase against Galatasaray.
Five key players—Matheus Nunes, Phil Foden, Nico O’Reilly, Josko Gvardiol, and Ruben Dias—are currently one yellow card away from a mandatory one-match ban.
Under UEFA’s “Three-Card Rule,” another booking would see these stars sidelined for the upcoming knockout round fixtures.
Pep Guardiola’s selection is already complicated by Rodri’s red-card suspension and a growing injury list. Furthermore, recent signings Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo are ineligible, leaving the squad depleted.
While yellow cards are wiped after the quarter-finals, the current carryover rule means any caution tonight carries significant weight.
Guardiola must balance the need for a result with the risk of losing his core defensive and creative assets.