Manchester City would lock horns with 13-time Champions League champions Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
City dominated the first leg at Etihad and kept the ball in their possession for long stretches.
Real Madrid was plainly lucky to lose the game by a slender margin of 4-3. Moreover, Manchester City lost a couple of good chances to bury the ball past Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Karim Benzema again stood up to the task of getting the goals against an adamant City. He scored a brace in the match.
Real Madrid would be buoyant after their win over Espanyol by 4-0. This win ensured their title this season and they paraded the streets of Madrid with the trophy.
On the other hand, Manchester City too got a resounding victory over Leeds to solidify their position at the top.
Real Madrid Champions League Form: L W W L L
Manchester City Champions League Form: W D W D W
Manchester City vs Real Madrid Team News
City’s Team News
John Stones and Kyle Walker are still doubtful to play in the second leg. Though Stones is expected to return to the bench during the second leg, Walker’s return remains a big question mark.
Other than that it would be interesting to see who Pep plays in the left-back position. Both Zinchenko and Nathan Ake have played well in that position and Ake even got a goal in City’s last match.
Manchester City’s possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Joao Cancelao; Ruben Dias; Aymeric Laporte; Zinchenko; Rodri; Bernardo Silva; Kevin De Bruyne; Riyad Mahrez; Gabriel Jesus; Phil Foden
Los Blancos’ Team News:
Carlo Ancelotti’s greatest headache to be settling the centre back position. As it is Eder Militao is in an awful form.
Moreover, Ancelotti probably would have to deal with David Alaba’s absence, who had to be taken off in the first half of the first leg.
Ancelotti would also be boosted by the return of his trusted midfielder Casemiro. Therefore, the defensive woes could be fixed to some extent with his return.
On the other hand, Luka Jovic and Eden Hazard still remain unavailable.
Real Madrid’s possible starting lineup:
Thibaut Curtois; Ferland Mendy; Nacho Fernandez; Eder Militao; Carvajal; Casemiro; Tony Kroos; Luka Modric; Vinicius Junior; Federico Valverde; Karim Benzema
OUR PREDICTION
Real Madrid 3-2 Manchester City
Though City has won the first leg, Real Madrid has always stepped up their gameplay in the Champions League. This has been done twice before already in the tournament this season.
One against Paris St. Germain and another against Chelsea.
Therefore, though City would try to make it to the final for the second time in a row. The form Benzema is in currently-it would not be an easy task for City to achieve that in Bernabeu.
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