The defending European champions took on the most successful club in the competition’s rich history at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night, but did so without the Belgian from the start. De Bruyne, set to start in the City midfield, was replaced by Mateo Kovacic at the last minute.
Guardiola confirmed to TNT Sport that the reason was due to the 32-year-old falling ill. “We made a meeting, he was ready, and when we arrived in the locker room he started to vomit and said, ‘I’m not ready’.” De Bruyne was still named on the substitutes’ bench and could still play a role for City.
City’s star-studded side proved inside two minutes that they can survive without De Bruyne as Bernardo Silva caught out Andriy Lunin from over 30 yards out. Additionally, Eduardo Camavinga’s deflected effort from distance wrong-footed Stefan Ortega.
Then, two minutes later, Rodrygo slotted home Los Blancos’ go-ahead goal to make it 2-1 inside 15 minutes.
