Real Madrid– the Laliga Champions-elect meet Manchester City in their home, the Etihad. This is going to be a treat for football fans all over the world.
Man City have found back their form after their loss to Liverpool in the domestic league cup (FA) Semi-Final. This loss also kicked them out of the competition and dashed their hopes of a treble.
City’s last outing in the famed European Champions League ended on a bitter note. Though, they won the match against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. Still, there were reports of an ugly scuffle between the players of the two teams in the tunnel. This started just minutes before the last whistle was blown and it continued after the match as well.
However, keeping the ugly aspects aside, Pep’s men needed just the one goal to scrape past Atletico in the quarters.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, had to labor to contain Chelsea. It was the second leg of the quarters and Real was playing at their home ground. Still, Chelsea was the team that dominated the game and was on verge of making a glorious comeback. However, it was again Karim Benzema who again dashed the hopes of a resurgent Chelsea. The magnificent header from Benzema took the hosts to the semi-final of the Champions League for a record 15th time.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side comes to Etihad on Tuesday at the head of a 3-1 win over Osasuna on Wednesday. Moreover, they enter the first leg with much more hope: on the back of a consecutive six-game winning stretch away from home in all competitions. However, it should be pointed out here that no team has ever won an away match against two different English teams in the knockout stages of the Champions League in the same year.
Real Madrid Champions League Form: W L W W L
Manchester City Champions League Form: L W D W D
Real Madrid vs Manchester City: Team News
Real Madrid:
Ancelotti would have to deal with quite a number of injury problems. While Eder Militao is back from a ban, David Alaba was taken off with a thigh issue in the game against Osasuna, and he still remains doubtful.
Casemiro was not ready to return to training along with Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, and Mariano Diaz. On the other hand, Ferland Mendy was able to complete a part of his session only.
Real Madrid’s possible starting lineup:
Curtois; Carvajal; Militao; Nacho; Mendy; Kroos; Camavinga; Modric; Benzema; Vinicius Junior
Manchester City:
City’s greatest absence, when they host Madrid would be Joao Cancelo, who was booked for the third time in the tournament against Atletico Madrid.
Therefore, Guardiola would be eager to have Kyle Walker in his starting lineup. Walker had been nursing an ankle problem. Doubts, also remain on John Stones who was out with an injury in the muscle.
Manchester City’s possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker; Dias; Laporte; Zinchenko; Silva; Rodri; De Bruyne; Mahrez; Jesus; Sterling
OUR PREDICTION
Real Madrid 2-0 Manchester City
Real Madrid and the Champions League go synonymous. They have been relentless in this competition for years now. This year has been no different. When it comes to Guardiola and his men- they have been lacking the teeth to perform at the business end of this tournament. Moreover, the form Benzema is in currently, a Real Madrid win looks very much probable.
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