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Kevin De Bruyne became a bigger talking point than the Real Madrid vs. Manchester City clash. The Belgian superstar missed the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal Leg 1 after he vomited before the crucial fixture. While the reason he missed Tuesday’s night clash was revealed, the question looms as to what actually caused him to vomit in the first place. 

Until now, as a report from The Daily Star writer Jeremy Cross, it might have been possible that De Bruyne consumed something before the match. The 32-year-old dined at the team hotel a few hours before the game, causing concern among City players that more members of the squad might fall ill. However, luckily, it was an isolated incident, which only saw the midfielder get sick. Had other players also consumed and showcased similar symptoms as De Bruyne did, then Guardiola would have been in deep trouble. 

via Reuters

The majority of the team would have been sick, which might have seen the opening leg of the Champions League have a different outcome. Additionally, City’s bid for an unprecedented back-to-back treble could have suffered a significant setback solely due to their journey to Spain. Notably, the Sky Blues are scheduled to play Luton in the Premier League on Saturday, followed by the second leg against Madrid. After further deciding their fate in the European competition, the reigning champions will face formidable rival Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. So is De Bruyne back now? 

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Fortunately, De Bruyne has recovered from the illness and even returned to training before the match against the Hatters. While it’s a positive update surrounding the Belgian, what about Guardiola’s other gem, who left the pitch against Madrid, causing concern? 

While Kevin De Bruyne is fine, what about Phil Foden? 

During the 3-3 thriller against Los Blancos, Phil Foden, after scoring a crucial top-bin screamer for his side, was substituted after suffering a knock. However, in the post-match presser, Pep Guardiola gave a reliving update. He said, “It was a knock. He was grumpy with me because I made a substitution but he made another fantastic goal.” Notably, the injury came after he went down holding his ankle. 

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Despite undergoing treatment and rejoining the game, the 23-year-old found it challenging to match the pace of play, moving cautiously. This prompted Guardiola to promptly replace him, introducing Argentinian forward Julian Alvarez. Certainly, it was a cautious choice to substitute him, as prolonging his presence on the field would have posed a risk of aggravating his injury. 

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READ MORE: “When Ronaldo Is Your Idol”- Fans Spot Rodrygo’s Cristiano Ronaldo Homage During Real Madrid vs Manchester City

What would be interesting to see is how Guardiola chose to lineup his side for Luton Town before facing Real Madrid.