Manchester City will once again be without Rodri as they host Sunderland in the Premier League this weekend.
The Spaniard has been struggling with a hamstring injury throughout the campaign so far and is not yet ready to return.
Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, has had a minimal impact over the last year, having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal last season, which ruled him out until May.
He made his proper return over the summer at the Club World Cup, but a hamstring niggle has continued to trouble him in recent months, and Pep Guardiola has now confirmed he will not be available for the Black Cats’ visit.
Otherwise for City, Guardiola has a full complement to pick from against Sunderland, minus long-term absentee Mateo Kovacic, who has had ankle surgery.
A remarkable 5-4 win at Fulham in midweek highlighted City’s defensive frailties, and although it seems that Guardiola has settled on his preferred back four, he may be tempted to make some tweaks as a result.
Gianluigi Donnarumma will start in goal, but question marks remain over whether Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias will partner each other once more.
John Stones and Nathan Ake are options to shake things up, with the City boss preferring natural central defender Abdukodir Khusanov as a right-back.
At full-back, Matheus Nunes has been solid on the right, and Nico O’Reilly has seemingly made the left-sided berth his own ahead of summer signing Rayan Ait-Nouri.
In the engine room, expect Nico Gonzalez to deputise for Rodri again, flanked by Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders, who netted at Craven Cottage.
Phil Foden seems back to his best off the right flank, and Jeremy Doku also found the net in west London.
Record-breaker Erling Haaland, who hit his 100th Premier League goal against Fulham, should lead the line as usual.
Predicted Man City XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, Nico, Reijnders; Foden, Haaland, Doku
Injured: Rodri, Kovacic
Time and date: 3pm GMT on Saturday December 6, 2025
Venue: Etihad Stadium
