It's been a successful week for Manchester City in their quest to collect a fourth Premier League title in five years, as Pep Guardiola's side picked up resounding victories against Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford.

The results mean that they are now just five wins away from retaining their title for the second time in the Guardiola era, but they still remain without the biggest title in European football. The UEFA Champions League.

Their quest to pick up the trophy continues on Tuesday, when they welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium. However it looks as though they will have to make do without some key players, as discussed by Pep in his post-Watford press conference.

Walker/Stones Doubtful

Both Kyle Walker and John Stones were absent from Manchester City's victory after the English duo sustained injuries against Atletico Madrid and Brighton respectively. 

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Walker, who had been spotted wearing a protective boot during the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool, was seen at the Etihad this afternoon, chatting with Watford gaffer Roy Hodgson pre-game.

However despite being without the protective boot, Walker was unable to make the match day squad and he, alongside Stones, who picked up a "niggle" in the victory over Brighton on Wednesday, are both doubtful for Tuesday's game.

"We don't have many options, we don't have fullbacks. I don't know if Kyle [Walker] will arrive [for Real Madrid], Joao [Cancelo] is out and John [Stones] will be difficult to get to but we will see."

No Cancelo

If the potential loss of Walker and Stones wasn't bad enough for Guardiola, the Spaniard will also be without fullback Joao Cancelo, who will miss the game through suspension after his late yellow card at Atletico Madrid.

As a result, it looks likely that Pep will be without a recognised, senior fullback for the first-leg, however he will be able to call on the "reliable" Oleksandr Zinchenko.

"Oleks is another player who is so reliable so Oleks we will never forget what he has done these last three or four years playing in a position that is not his natural position.

"When you don't play your natural position you are going to play one game or two games but playing seasons not in your natural position you have to be so strong in your head and in your mind."

Pep can also call upon the versatile Nathan Ake, who feature in the left-back role in the 1-0 quarter final victory over Atletico Madrid.

Predicted Lineup

Presuming that Stones and Walker are unavailable for Tuesday's tie, then it is likely that we will see Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte team up at centre-half, with Oleksandr Zinchenko on the left and Nathan Ake on the right.

EDS star Conrad Egan-Riley is another option for Pep. The 19-year-old made his UEFA Champions League debut in the last-16 second-leg against Sporting Lisbon earlier this season and didn't look out of place out under the Etihad lights.

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However despite being the natural fit for the role, it seems unlikely that Pep would risk a player with such little experience in such a high stakes game.

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