Man City’s Haaland Out until End of January, Says Guardiola

Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland smiles during the preparations for the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Sheffield United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 30, 2023. (AFP)
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland smiles during the preparations for the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Sheffield United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 30, 2023. (AFP)
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Man City’s Haaland Out until End of January, Says Guardiola

Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland smiles during the preparations for the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Sheffield United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 30, 2023. (AFP)
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland smiles during the preparations for the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Sheffield United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 30, 2023. (AFP)

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will be sidelined until the end of January due to a foot injury, manager Pep Guardiola said.

City play Newcastle United in the Premier League later on Saturday, visit Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Jan. 26 before hosting Burnley in the league on Jan. 31.

Guardiola said he expects the 23-year-old Norwegian to return to training during their camp in Abu Dhabi next week.

"It's the bone. It needs time," Guardiola told reporters ahead of the trip to St. James' Park.

"It's fine, but the doctors decided to stop for one week and maybe restart in Abu Dhabi. Hopefully, at the end of this month, he'll be ready. It was a little bit more than we expected in the beginning."

Haaland, the joint top scorer in the Premier League alongside Liverpool's Mohamed Salah with 14 goals, has missed City's last eight games in all competitions.

"We need him," Guardiola said. "Hopefully he can come back and play the last four or five months without a problem."

The City manager also said Swiss defender Manuel Akanji would be out of action until the end of the month but did have some positive news on Kevin De Bruyne, with the Belgian set to return to the starting 11.

The 32-year-old, who suffered a hamstring injury on the first day of the season against Burnley, came on as a substitute in the FA Cup win over Huddersfield last weekend.

Guardiola gave a positive response when asked if the midfielder could start at Newcastle.

"Yes. From what I saw yesterday I feel really good, he was dynamic, and the minutes he played was better than the training sessions before the Huddersfield game.

"He is getting better now, he will have a few days off after this game and can train in Abu Dhabi to be better for the next few months," he added.

City are third, five points behind leaders Liverpool, but Guardiola's side have a game in hand and the manager still believes they can win a fourth consecutive league title.

"How many points left? 18 or 19 games ... so obviously mathematically possible," the manager said.

Newcastle are ninth, 11 points behind City, and come into the game on the back of three consecutive league defeats.



Barcelona Out to Prove Clasico Superiority in Copa del Rey Final

Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been decisive for the Catalan giants this season. Josep LAGO / AFP
Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been decisive for the Catalan giants this season. Josep LAGO / AFP
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Barcelona Out to Prove Clasico Superiority in Copa del Rey Final

Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been decisive for the Catalan giants this season. Josep LAGO / AFP
Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been decisive for the Catalan giants this season. Josep LAGO / AFP

Hansi Flick's Barcelona are closing in on a potential quadruple this season but blocking their path are eternal rivals Real Madrid.

Although the Catalan giants, also in the Champions League semi-finals, are widely considered the best team in Spain at the moment, Carlo Ancelotti's faltering Los Blancos could claim both domestic titles still on the line.

Madrid trail leaders Barca by four points in La Liga, with another Clasico to come in May, but first the Spanish giants butt heads in Seville on Saturday in the Copa del Rey final.

Flick's Barcelona have emphatically bested Madrid on the two prior occasions they have met this season, first winning 4-0 in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu in October.

Then Barca dismantled Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia in January, roaring to a 5-2 victory to claim the first trophy of the Flick era.

Barcelona outplayed Madrid in both games but their German coach had nothing but praise for his Italian counterpart.

"Real Madrid has an incredible team and one of the best coaches in the world... He (Ancelotti) has won everything," said Flick on Tuesday.

"He's a gentleman... I have the highest respect.

"On Saturday, we play the final against Real Madrid and of course against Carlo."

Ancelotti will need to find ways to shut down Pedri in midfield as well as dynamic wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.

Madrid have lost 12 matches this season, compared to just two across all competitions in the previous campaign.

Barcelona breezed past Real Betis and edged Atletico Madrid on the way to the final at La Cartuja stadium, their first since 2021, when they beat Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid, who last won the trophy in 2023, needed an extra-time goal from Antonio Rudiger to beat Real Sociedad 5-4 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

After Madrid's Champions League elimination by Arsenal earlier this month they are desperate to beat Barcelona and claim some silverware as well as restoring their pride.

Both sides have lost important players in the run-up to the game.

Barcelona are without top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski and left-back Alejandro Balde, while Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga was ruled out for the rest of the season on Thursday with a groin injury.

French superstar Kylian Mbappe missed Madrid's nervy 1-0 win at Getafe on Wednesday as he recovers from an ankle problem, but Ancelotti said he is expected to be fit to face Barca.

'Anything can happen'

Mbappe was whistled by Madrid fans during their win over Athletic Bilbao last weekend when his face appeared on the screens at the Bernabeu and he will hoping to lift his first major trophy with the club, following European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup wins.

When Madrid have lined up with Mbappe alongside Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo sometimes the team suffers at the back.

"Maybe they are the favorites, but a final is a final and anything can happen," said Ancelotti.

"We have to defend well and I am convinced that we will defend well and have opportunities in attack."

Barcelona will likely line up with Gerard Martin at left-back replacing Balde, which is an area Madrid can exploit, perhaps through Rodrygo, although the Brazilian has not scored in his last 11 matches.

"On a statistical level he has to play because if he's not scored in all that time, well he has to sooner or later," joked Ancelotti.

"In these type of matches he always scores and I believe in him completely."

Rodrygo netted both goals as Madrid beat Osasuna to win the Copa del Rey two years ago, the club's 20th.

Barcelona are the all-time record winners on 31 triumphs, ahead of current holders Athletic Bilbao on 24, with Madrid third.