City defender John Stones leaves Champions League game because of injury

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Manchester City’s John Stones lies on the pitch after an injury during the Champions League playoff second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

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Manchester City’s John Stones leaves the pitch after an injury during the Champions League playoff second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

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Manchester City’s Nathan Ake, right, and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe jump for the ball during the Champions League playoff second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

MADRID (AP) — It was a tough start for Manchester City in the Champions League playoffs against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Shortly after Kylian Mbappé gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute, City central defender John Stones had to be substituted because of an apparent knee injury.

Stones went down to the ground not long after Mbappé scored, having to be substituted in the eighth minute. He walked off the field on his own. He was replaced by Nathan Aké.

City had already started the match without striker Erling Haaland, who couldn’t fully recover from a knee injury he sustained in a Premier League match on Saturday.

Madrid won 3-1 with a hat trick by Mbappé. The Spanish powerhouse advanced to the round of 16 on a 6-3 aggregate score.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer