Nico Gonzalez update as 25-man Manchester City squad spotted in training ahead of Real Madrid clash | OneFootball

A 25-man Manchester City squad trained in front of broadcasters at the City Football Academy on Monday afternoon ahead of their meeting with Real Madrid.

Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City players have been handed a tough outcome following a last-minute last-16 play-off place in the league phase of the competition following their 22nd position finish.

A 3-1 home comeback win over Club Brugge on matchday eight ensured that the Premier League champions would avoid the embarrassing possibility of being eliminated from Europe’s premier club competition at the first hurdle.

Last time out saw City also avoid an early exit from the FA Cup and in dramatic circumstances as they ensured another comeback win this time away to League One side Leyton Orient, as Abdukodir Khusanov and Kevin De Bruyne scored to book a place in round five.

Matters in European outings have been far from as good however, losing all of their last three away trips in the competition and throwing away a three-goal lead with 15 minutes remaining to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord in December.

Manchester City’s fitness situation is improving although there have been major question marks over the injury sustained by Nico Gonzalez inside the first 25 minutes of his debut at Brisbane Road on Saturday afternoon forcing an early exit from the action.

Oscar Bobb also sustained a setback in his recovery from a leg bone fracture having gone over on his ankle during a recent training session, preventing him from returning to matchday action against the likes of Arsenal and Leyton Orient, as previously anticipated.

And as Manchester City finalise their training ground preparations for the meeting with Real Madrid in the last-16 play-off first-leg tie, here is the full list of players spotted on the City Football Academy pitches during the opening 15 minutes of the session.

25-man Manchester City squad in training

Goalkeepers: Ederson, Stefan Ortega Moreno, Scott Carson.

Defenders: Rico Lewis, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol.

Midfielders: Nico O’Reilly, Ilkay Gundogan, Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic, James McAtee, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, Matheus Nunes.

Forwards: Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush, Savinho, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish.

Pep Guardiola’s only two absent stars from Monday afternoon’s session were Oscar Bobb and Rodri, as both men continue their work towards a recovery from injury with the latter several weeks or perhaps months from a return to grass-work.

Manchester City’s official media channels did publish footage of Rodri working in the gym over the course of the weekend as his recovery shifted over to the United States as the Spaniard attended the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

As for Bobb, it remains to be seen just how much damage his ankle issue has caused him with Pep Guardiola yet to provide an update on the Norwegian’s latest setback and when he could return to training once again.