Guardiola hopes Haaland will be fit for Madrid clash after knee issue

Pep Guardiola is optimistic that star striker Erling Haaland avoided a knee injury during Saturday's 4-0 win over Newcastle United and is hopeful the Norwegian will be available for Wednesday's big Champions League match against Real Madrid.

Haaland was favoring his right knee in the closing stages of the victory after going down on the pitch and grimacing in discomfort following an apparent non-contact injury.

The 24-year-old walked off the pitch under his own power and watched the rest of the match from the bench, where he didn't receive any immediate medical attention. He didn't seem to be in any obvious pain while shaking hands after the final whistle, either.

"When he went down, everyone was scared," Guardiola told reporters after the match, per Mark Ogden of ESPN. "But he walked off smiling and the doctor didn't tell me bad news so hopefully he is fine.

"I have not spoken to the doctor. Maybe it's not bad as it could be."

Manchester City meet Real Madrid on Wednesday in the second leg of their Champions League knockout playoff tie. Guardiola's men will be looking to overturn a 3-2 deficit in the Spanish capital after losing the first leg at home, a contest in which Haaland scored both of his team's goals.