Manuel Pellegrini faces a huge selection dilemma tomorrow as he tries to balance the top-four scrap with the bid for Champions League glory. And he may start Nigerian midfielder, Kelechi Iheanacho against the Saints.

The Manchester City manager has done a fine job of juggling the twin aims in the last month, both strengthening the Blues’ league position and keeping them in the European hunt.

Sports science accepted wisdom dictates that a player cannot keep up a standard of physical and mental performance for three games in a week. The Blues will be facing Madrid twice and the Saints in eight days, and Pellegrini is bound to make as many changes as he thinks he can get away with.

Injuries to David Silva and Yaya Toure, and the remaining doubt over Samir Nasri, mean that Pellegrini has few attacking options, and three or four players at least will have to grit their teeth. The big question is whether Sergio Aguero and Jesus Navas plough on.

Aguero has started the last 15 matches, in all competitions, and his only significant rest came when he was taken off against Stoke with 25 minutes left. Aguero wants to play in every game, but Pellegrini might just feel he has to be protected from his own keenness – and with Kelechi Iheanacho in form, there is a temptation.