Erling Haaland misses Manchester City’s trip to Leeds United

Elland Road, 29 February 2025 – Manchester City’s pursuit of Premier League leaders Arsenal was dealt an unexpected blow as Erling Haaland was ruled out of the champions’ evening meeting with Leeds United, forcing Pep Guardiola to hand a surprise start to Omar Marmoush.

The Norway striker, who had featured in every league fixture this term—starting 26 of 27 and scoring 22 times—was withdrawn from the squad after reporting discomfort in training two days ago. Guardiola, speaking ahead of kick-off, downplayed the severity of the complaint but confirmed Haaland was “not ready for today.”

“Two days ago in training he had some problems and a little injury,” the City manager explained. “Not a big issue but not ready for today. We are without one top striker and we are playing with another top striker.”

Haaland’s absence is particularly resonant in West Yorkshire: the 25-year-old was born in Leeds and his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, spent three seasons at the club between 1997 and 2000. The striker’s last visit to Elland Road ended with a brace in a 3-1 City win in December 2022, and his overall tally of 29 goals in 38 games this campaign underlines the scale of the void left in Guardiola’s attack.

Marmoush, preferred up front, will be flanked by Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki, with Bernardo Silva and Rodri anchoring midfield. Guardiola expects Leeds’ customary man-to-man pressing to force his side direct, a route in which Haaland normally thrives as both outlet and finisher. Semenyo’s physicality, rather than Marmoush’s, is now likely to be tasked with relieving pressure when the contest turns end-to-end.

City arrived in Yorkshire five points behind Arsenal; victory would trim that gap to three with a game in hand still to play. Leeds, for their part, have lost only three times on home soil this season, most recently to Arsenal on 31 January, and will look to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brenden Aaronson to capitalise on the champions’ missing spearhead.

Haaland, watching from afar, posted a simple reaction on social media after the final whistle—an image of the celebrating squad accompanied by the caption “so important”—a reminder of the collective push that must now continue without him, however briefly, in the run-in.

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