City lacking Kompany for Champions League tie

MANCHESTER City are again without Vincent Kompany as they look to secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions League tonight.

The City skipper has not travelled to Germany for his side’s penultimate Group C game at Borussia Monchengladbach after it was confirmed he faces another lay-off with a knee injury.

The 30-year-old suffered ligament damage i n the collision with goalkeeper Claudio Bravo that also left him concussed in Saturday’s Premier League victory at Crystal Palace.

Manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed he expects the player to be out for a number of weeks following this latest setback, the 35th reported injury Kompany has suffered since joining City in 2008.

“For the next weeks he’s injured,” said Guardiola.

“Fortunately it’s not too bad in the head, because that is the most difficult thing, but in that action he had a little bit problem with the knee.

“He’s sad. He’s sad and upset. It’s long time he doesn’t play.”

Kompany had been making just his fifth appearance of the season as he tried to ease back into action from the groin strain he suffered on his return from a thigh injury at Swansea in September.

He had recently sat out games against Barcelona, West Brom and Middlesbrough and withdrawn from international duty with Belgium as precautionary measures.

Following their defeat of group leaders Barcelona last time out, City will reach the knockout phase for a fourth successive season with victory over Monchengladbach, a side they beat 4-0 in September. A draw will also be sufficient if Barca beat Celtic.

Santi Cazorla