Pep Rests Haaland for Madrid
Pep Guardiola gave Erling Haaland the night off during City's 3-1 FA Cup win over Newcastle, specifically to help the striker 'rediscover his pace' ahead of their crucial Champions League trip to Real Madrid. The decision signals how seriously City is taking their European ambitions this season.
The decision to rest Haaland comes ahead of a crucial Champions League Round of 16 clash with Real Madrid. This fixture is rapidly becoming a modern European classic, with the two clubs set to face each other in the knockout stages for the fifth consecutive season. The historical balance is remarkably even, with five wins for each side and five draws in their 15 encounters. While rested for the FA Cup tie, Haaland has been in prolific form during the 2025-2026 season, netting 29 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions. His Champions League record is particularly sharp, with seven goals in eight matches this season. Concerns had been raised about the striker's fitness after he missed a match against Leeds prior to the FA Cup game. In Haaland's absence against Newcastle, Omar Marmoush and Savinho stepped up, with Marmoush scoring a brace to secure the 3-1 victory. This win keeps City's hopes for more domestic silverware alive as they advance to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. The focus on the Champions League is intensified by off-field speculation. Reports in late February suggested that manager Pep Guardiola had asked Haaland to cease any discussions with Real Madrid about a potential future transfer to maintain full focus on City's current campaign.
