Premier League Shock: Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes Fitness Status Could Change Weekend Clash Completely
Watching Manchester City stumble 3-1 against Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on that frosty Tuesday was a real eye-opener — and not just because of the scoreline. It underscored something we’ve all been noticing: right-back Matheus Nunes isn’t just another cog in Pep Guardiola’s machine; he’s borderline irreplaceable. The guy wasn’t even on the plane to the Arctic Circle, sidelined by the flu — the same bug that kept him out of the high-stakes derby loss at Old Trafford against Manchester United just days earlier. At 27, with a solid run of starts—17 so far this Premier League season—the Portuguese-Brazilian’s absence has been felt deep in the spine of City’s defense. Pep’s squad is now bracing for a home clash with Wolves, and whether Nunes can lace up against his former club is anyone’s guess. Given how City’s form dips without him—losing valuable matches both domestically and in Europe—you’d better believe the pressure is mounting for his speedy comeback. Want the full scoop on how this key player’s health could tilt the balance this season? LEARN MORE
Manchester City were beaten 3-1 at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday, another reminder of just how key right-back Matheus Nunes can be to Pep Guardiola’s team.
Nunes missed out on the Champions League trip to the Arctic Circle as he recovers from the flu, which also kept him out of last weekend’s derby defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Matheus Nunes illness latest ahead of Manchester City vs Wolves
Man City have lost two and won one of the three league games in which Nunes hasn’t featured in the 2025-26 season, and lost two and won one of the three Champions League matches in which he’s been unavailable or unused as a substitute.
Guardiola is readying his team for a home game against improving Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday and doubts over Nunes’ ability to play against his former club remain after City’s chastening midweek defeat in Norway.
City have offered no suggestion that Nunes will take more than this week to recover and it’s understood that they are hopeful he will be available for selection against Wolves on Saturday.
He will be assessed before Guardiola makes a decision on his squad and will surely be eager to face his old teammates when Rob Edwards brings the Old Gold to the Etihad Stadium.
Nunes, who was born in Brazil but has played 17 times for Portugal, joined the West Midlands club from Sporting CP in 2022 but was snapped up by City after a single stellar season at Molineux.
He netted Wolves a reported fee of £53 million and has been an increasingly positive influence on City in his first three seasons. He featured 28 times in all competitions in 2023-24, winning the Premier League title, and has been a regular start in the subsequent campaigns.
This season, City have been beaten by Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt, Man United and Tottenham Hotspur in his absence, two of them at home.
The former Wolves right-back has appeared in five matches against his old club since joining City, losing the first one at Molineux but winning the last four, all in the Premier League.
City have won those matches by an aggregate score of 12-2 thanks to a 5-1 home win in 2023-24 and a 4-0 victory away at Wolves on the opening day of the 2025-26 season.
Nunes was introduced off the bench at 3-0, playing 24 minutes after replacing Rico Lewis on the right side of the City defence.
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