Manchester City will be without their vital midfielder Rodri for the upcoming fixtures against Villarreal and Aston Villa this week, as confirmed by manager Pep Guardiola. The Spanish international is still in recovery from a hamstring injury he sustained earlier this month.

Rodri had to leave the pitch during the first half of City's narrow 1-0 victory over Brentford on October 5 and subsequently pulled out of the Spain squad for their World Cup qualifiers. The 29-year-old midfielder also missed City's recent 2-0 triumph against Everton and will continue his rehabilitation as the club takes a cautious approach regarding his return.

When asked about Rodri’s availability, Guardiola stated, "I don't expect him to play against Villarreal or Aston Villa. It's a muscular issue, and we need to be careful. We have tried to avoid taking risks, but we haven’t been successful in managing the situation. We'll see how it progresses."

Rodri’s absence is a significant setback for City, especially with the upcoming Champions League clash against Villarreal on Wednesday. This is particularly poignant as he began his professional career at the club before moving to Atletico Madrid and eventually joining City. He has been integral to Guardiola’s midfield, providing balance, control, and defensive stability.

Currently, City sits second in the Premier League with 16 points from eight matches, three points behind league leaders Arsenal. After their match against Villarreal, they will face Aston Villa on Sunday, which will be another crucial match in the title race.

Rodri had already missed a considerable part of last season due to a knee injury, and City is keen to avoid rushing him back too soon. With a busy match schedule ahead, Guardiola is likely to rotate his squad and rely on the depth of their midfield as they strive to compete on multiple fronts.