UEFA Champions League team news: Rodri not in Manchester City squad, Piero Hincapie available for Arsenal, Newcastle star 'touch-and-go'
Published 20/10/2025 at 18:56 GMT+1
Rodri's stop-start season is set to continue in that manner, with the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner having not travelled with the Manchester City squad for Tuesday's trip to Villarreal - live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be able to call upon Piero Hincapie, who has been restricted to just one substitute appearance since joining on loan from Bayer Leverkusen.
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Rodri is not in Manchester City's travelling squad for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash at Villarreal - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Head coach Pep Guardiola cast doubt on the midfielder's availability following City's 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday, saying he had sustained a "muscular" injury.
Rodri was omitted from the travelling squad, confirming his absence for Tuesday's match at Estadio de la Ceramica, and continuing his stop-start 2025/26 campaign.
The Spain international spent almost the entirety of the 2024/25 season sidelined through an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and has started just four of City's eight Premier League matches this season, having played integral roles in their prior success.
January signing Nico Gonzalez has assumed the holding midfielder role from his compatriot in his absence, but could face competition from Mateo Kovacic, who played his first minutes of the season against Everton after recovering from an Achilles injury.
"He has a special quality with the ball to keep it but we cannot forget that he has come from surgery and had three or four months injured," Guardiola said of Kovacic on Saturday.
"I don’t want Kovacic for 90 minutes, 90 minutes, 90 minutes. In time, he will get it but I don’t have the feeling that he is ready to play it now."
Rayan Ait-Nouri, meanwhile, was named in the travelling squad. He has been out injured since City's 2-1 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion in August.
Hincapie fit for Arsenal
Piero Hincapie has played just a matter of minutes for Arsenal since joining on loan from Bayer Leverkusen on deadline day, but Mikel Arteta confirmed the defender would be available for Tuesday's Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid at Emirates Stadium.
Hincapie's only appearance so far for Arsenal came as a stoppage-time substitute in the 2-0 win over Athletic Club last month. He has since been sidelined with a groin injury.
But Arteta confirmed at his press conference on Monday that the Ecuador international was fit again.
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"Yeah, he will be available," Arteta said. "I think that game [Saturday's 1-0 win over Fulham] was a bit too early for him, but now he's ready to go."
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is expected to remain out until mid-November, per reports, while Noni Madueke is likely to remain out.
Tonali 'touch-and-go'
Sandro Tonali has been an integral figure in Newcastle United's midfield thus far in the 2025/26 campaign, but is a doubt for Tuesday's home clash against Benfica through illness.
Howe said at his press conference on Monday: "A bit of illness for Sandro so he will be touch and go for the game. We'll give him every opportunity. He wasn't there for training today. He's such an important player so we'll use all the hours we have."
Lewis Miley has impressed when called upon so far this season and could be drafted in should Tonali not be available, while Joe Willock is another option.
Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento are likely to remain out, while Yoane Wissa - who has yet to appear for Newcastle - is also unlikely to feature.
Huge boosts for PSG
Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos and 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele are set to travel to Bayer Leverkusen after both enduring spells on the sidelines in recent weeks.
Dembele has been out since the start of September, when he sustained a hamstring issue on international duty with France. Marquinhos, meanwhile, missed four games for the Champions League holders.
Luis Enrique's side have stuttered somewhat domestically in the absence of the influential duo, winning just one of their last four Ligue 1 games, so their respective returns to fitness will be welcome ones.
PSG's visit to BayArena kicks off at 20:00 (UK time) on Tuesday, and is available to watch via TNT Sports and discovery+.
Gravenberch fears for Liverpool
Things have been tough on the red side of Merseyside in recent weeks, with Arne Slot's team suffering four consecutive defeats.
Among their concerns heading into Wednesday's Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - will be the fitness of Ryan Gravenberch, after he was withdrawn during the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.
Slot said after the match that Gravenberch had "twisted his ankle" but said they would have to "wait and see" how his recovery goes in order to assess whether he will feature in Germany.
It remains to be seen whether Alisson will recover from his groin injury in time for Wednesday's match, but reports have said he is expected to be out until the November international break.
Chelsea to continue without Palmer
Cole Palmer's season is set to continue in a frustrating manner, with Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca confirming on Friday he is likely to be out for six more weeks.
Palmer has made just four appearances this season, with a persistent groin injury limiting his game time.
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"We try to protect Cole as much as we can," Maresca said. "The most important thing is when he comes back, he is fully fit.
"The medical staff are not magicians. We hope six weeks are enough. We need to see it step-by-step. For sure, he's going to be okay.
"He looks relaxed. He has tried to recover from the injury and is doing all the therapy."
Chelsea host Ajax on Wednesday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Crisis brewing at Barca?
Barcelona could be without a series of key players for Tuesday's home clash against Olympiacos, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ (17:45 UK time).
For Saturday's 2-1 win against Girona, Hansi Flick was without Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, Gavi and Dani Olmo. They also had two goalkeepers out: Joan Garcia and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
That meant a La Liga debut for 17-year-old Toni Fernandez in attack, with Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford either side.
Barca have the small matter of El Clasico on Sunday, and speaking at his press conference on Monday, Flick said: "We hope Ferran and Raphinha can be available for El Clasico. We’ll have to take it slowly. We need to minimise risks, and playing Ferran tomorrow would be too much of a risk."
Thoughts?
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