Manchester City have suffered a potential injury blow regarding defender Nathan Ake ahead of next Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg away against Real Madrid.
The 28-year-old, who recently recovered from a hamstring injury, was handed his second successive start and made his 200th league appearance in English football in City's 2-1 Premier League win over Leeds United on Saturday.
However, the Dutchman was forced to withdraw just eight minutes into the second half after sustaining an apparent calf problem and limped off down the tunnel before coming back out to sit on the bench with an ice pack.
Guardiola opted to swiftly replace Ake as soon as he sat down on the turf in discomfort, with Kyle Walker coming on as his replacement.
While Ake's withdrawn was most likely a precautionary one, Citizens supporters will be concerned to see one of their standout performers of the season emerge as a doubt for next Tuesday's trip to the Santiago Bernabeu.
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Ake has been one of the first names on the teamsheet for Guardiola this season, particularly since the January loan departure of Joao Cancelo to Bayern Munich.
The former Chelsea defender has made a total of 38 appearances for City across all competitions this campaign, including 25 starts in the Premier League and six in the Champions League.
Ake had only features 40 times for the Citizens over the previous two seasons, but he has established himself as a key cog in Guardiola's machine this term on the left side of a versatile back four.
The potential absence of Ake next Tuesday could see Manuel Akanji move over to the left side of defence where he impressed in two games against Arsenal and Fulham when City's No.6 was recovering from a hamstring issue.
Left-footed defender Aymeric Laporte could also slot into the left-back role, while Rico Lewis finished the win over Leeds on the left side and is another option at Guardiola's disposal.
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Guardiola was boosted by the return of playmaker Kevin De Bruyne for the win over Leeds, with the Belgian playing the full 90 minutes after missing the previous two games due to a knock to his leg.
De Bruyne was not City's star midfielder at the Etihad, though, as captain Ilkay Gundogan stole the show with two first-half goals, both assisted by Riyad Mahrez, to put the hosts in control heading into the break.
Gundogan missed the chance to seal his first-ever senior hat-trick when he stuck a penalty against the post on the 84-minute mark, just a minute before Leeds went up the other end and pulled one back through Rodrigo to make it a nervy finish for the hosts.
However, on Coronation day, City managed to move a step closer to their crowning moment, with a 10th successive Premier League victory helping them move four points clear at the top of the table, before second-placed Arsenal face third-placed Newcastle United on Sunday.
Guardiola's side now have less than 72 hours to prepare for Tuesday's encounter with Champions League holders Real Madrid, who face Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final this evening.
Oliver Thomas
