Manchester City could be without midfield lynchpin Rodri for the remainder of the season in a huge blow to their quest to win their fifth-straight Premier League title.
The 28-year-old, who is a leading contender for the Ballon d'Or after helping Spain win Euro 2024, was forced off with a serious knee injury just 21 minutes into City's 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
Rodri was able to walk off the pitch but reports in Spain and from ESPN have now claimed that the star is likely to miss the remainder of the season after initial tests indicated he has suffered an 'anterior cruciate injury'.
His absence raises some doubt over the strength of City's title credentials. Yes, Pep Guardiola has a wealth of options at his disposal including the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic, who replaced him on Sunday night.
But the champions' record without their midfield general could inspire hope in the chasing pack.
Rodri could miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury against Arsenal on Sunday
The Spain star writhed on the ground in pain, before appearing to hold back tears on the Etihad pitch
His absence will give Pep Guardiola a massive headache, given City's record with him in the side
Last season, Guardiola's side were beaten just five times in all competitions, with the three Premier League losses and one in the Carabao Cup occurring when they were without Rodri.
In fact, City's FA Cup final defeat by Manchester United in May ended an unbeaten run of 74 matches for the midfielder - a record for a player in European football history.
Since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2019, City have won 74 per cent of the matches in which he has featured, drawing 15 per cent and losing only 11 per cent. That remarkable record in 260 matches drops sharply to 64 per cent in the 45 games without Rodri.
In the Premier League, Guardiola's side have recorded 129 wins in 174 matches and have lost just 19, with the last coming against Tottenham in February 2023. However, without Rodri, City have dropped 23 points in 21 league games.
At the Etihad on Sunday, the Spain star writhed on the ground in pain, before appearing to hold back tears as he limped from the field alongside City's medical staff.
MARCA claims that the Spaniard 'is currently travelling to Madrid to undergo a new examination to confirm the serious injury. He also plans to visit several specialists to make a decision regarding the operation.'
Fears over their star midfielder's fitness were evident following the game, with Bernardo Silva revealing to reporters that the Euro 2024 winner was 'in a bad way'.
'I don’t know, the truth is I don’t know,' Silva said when asked on Rodri's condition. 'He’s walking, I don’t know if there’s anything else, but so far we don’t know. I think we’ll know more tomorrow.
'I don’t think [he] left [on crutches], not now. But he left in a bad way, he wasn’t very well, he asked to be substituted. Let’s see what the doctors say.'
All three of City's Premier League defeats last term came when Rodri was absent from the team
City's FA Cup final defeat by Man United was Rodri's first loss in 74 matches for club and country
After the match, a concerned Guardiola was unable to provide an update on Rodri's fitness
'I don't know, I didn't speak to the doctor,' said Guardiola on Rodri's injury. '[But] Rodri is strong. He leaves the pitch in this action because he felt something, otherwise Rodri stays there.'
City's points-per-game dropping from 2.37 to 1.86 without Rodri will undoubtedly offer hope to the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool. The side moved to the top of the standings after their thrilling stalemate with the Gunners, who are just two points back after five games of the new campaign.