Erling Haaland Dropped to the Bench Ahead of Real Madrid vs Man City UCL Showdown

• Erling Haaland has been surprisingly left out of the starting XI ahead of Manchester City's showdown with Real Madrid
• The Norwegian, who scored twice in the first leg, will start the game from the bench as City boss Pep Guardiola tweaked his lineup
• The decision by Guardiola to drop his hitman has left fans and pundits alike puzzled, considering the magnitude of the game

In a tactical twist ahead of Manchester City’s high-stakes showdown with Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, Pep Guardiola has opted for a significant reshuffle in his starting XI.

The City boss has made five changes to the side that fell short against Los Blancos in the first leg—a decision that has sparked debate across the football world.

Erling Haaland dropped to the bench: A bold selection call

Among those relegated to the bench are Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, and Erling Haaland, while Manuel Akanji misses out due to injury.

Read also

CAF Best Player Lookman Fires Shots at Coach Over Harsh Penalty Taker Comment

Nathan Aké also makes way as Guardiola rolls the dice with a fresh approach.

While the exclusion of certain players was anticipated given their underwhelming displays last week, the decision to drop Haaland—the team’s primary goal threat—has left fans and analysts stunned.

Despite struggling in recent outings, the Norwegian striker ended his goal drought in City's 3-2 loss to Madrid, making his omission even more surprising, per the Mirror.

In his place, Omar Marmoush gets the nod—an eyebrow-raising selection, yet one seemingly justified by the Egyptian’s 14-minute hat-trick against Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Guardiola’s Haaland gamble: masterstroke or overthinking?

While the switch offers tactical flexibility, Guardiola’s history of radical Champions League selections has often drawn criticism for disrupting City’s rhythm in crucial matches.

This latest move has fuelled intense debate on social media, with fans questioning whether it’s a genius stroke or a case of overcomplication at the wrong moment.

Read also

Code Micky laments bitterly about pains after Atalanta, AC Milan 'destroy' his bet slips (Video)

Fans react to Guardiola dropping Haaland

The shock decision has sent X (formerly Twitter) into a frenzy, with users offering a mix of concern, scepticism, and intrigue:

@TwoTerty_ questioned Guardiola’s approach:

"Why does Pep always want to overthink?"

@stayhumbleh raised concerns about the attacking void left by Haaland’s absence:

"No Haaland? Who is going to score for City?"

@Desmund_Oris speculated about Guardiola’s intentions:

"Is he overthinking the starting 11? Or it’s another tactic to throw Ancelotti off balance?"

@ismael_mansoor suggested there must be a calculated reason behind the move:

"Massive call from Pep. Must be a plan because there's no way you bench a fully fit Haaland for a Champions League match!"

@9azario kept his verdict short and dramatic:

"It's over."

With Guardiola’s gamble now set in motion, all eyes will be on whether this high-risk selection will pay off or backfire under the lights of the Bernabéu.

Read also

Ronaldo names the worst footballer he has played with

Source: YEN.com.gh