Manchester City Vs Real Madrid Match Preview (1 Viewer)

MartinGee

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Manchester City and Real Madrid resume their rivalry at the Etihad Stadium for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night, following two moments of individual brilliance at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The teams come together with a 1-1 draw from the first leg in the Spanish capital, but only one of them has the potential to be crowned league champions and conquerors of Europe this season. Vinicius Junior set a high bar, and Kevin De Bruyne raised it even higher in the opening encounter between Man City and Real Madrid, where Los Blancos displayed quintessential Champions League prowess to overturn the Citizens' earlier efforts with a stunning strike from Vinicius. Although City seemed more likely to score initially, De Bruyne's sensational goal, showcasing extraordinary technique, ensured that Pep Guardiola's side secured a draw to bring back to their home ground.

Avoiding defeat at the Bernabeu was of utmost importance for City's treble pursuit, and they comfortably overcame Everton in a potential Premier League stumbling block over the weekend. The in-form Ilkay Gundogan contributed two goals and an assist, bringing the Premier League title within reach. If they can overcome a lackluster Chelsea side in the upcoming weekend, the title will be theirs. However, Guardiola's team cannot become preoccupied with domestic success as they aim to disrupt the European hierarchy.

With an unbeaten streak of 22 games to protect, City enter the second leg as clear favorites, boasting a remarkable 15-match winning run at the Etihad Stadium in all competitions. They have scored at least two goals in 14 of those matches and have not suffered a Champions League defeat on their home turf since September 2018. Nevertheless, Real Madrid, with their 14 European titles, pay little heed to such streaks and statistics. They have an additional motivation to tarnish City's continental record, having relinquished the La Liga title to Barcelona.

Real Madrid managed to delay Barcelona's crowning moment by securing a 1-0 victory over Getafe, courtesy of Marco Asensio's strike. Although they already have the Copa del Rey in their trophy cabinet, their focus now lies on retaining their European glory during the upcoming weeks, which hold little significance domestically.

While Real Madrid recently ended a five-game streak without a clean sheet against Getafe, they suffered consecutive La Liga defeats on the road against Girona and Real Sociedad. However, they have already proven their mettle away from home by defeating Liverpool and Chelsea in the Champions League this season.

Manchester City would prefer to avoid a repeat of last season's thrilling 4-3 encounter at the Etihad, as it would risk a pattern of high-scoring matches with their Big Six rivals. Real Madrid, on the other hand, have never emerged victorious in their four previous attempts on City's turf. The victors of this tantalizing clash of the titans will earn a ticket to Istanbul, where they will face either Inter Milan or AC Milan.

INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS

Currently, the Man City medical team's sole focus is on Nathan Ake, who has missed the Premier League champions' last two matches due to a hamstring injury sustained against Leeds United earlier this month.

Although Ake's condition has improved according to Guardiola, his availability for the second leg remains uncertain. However, apart from Ake, there are no other fitness concerns for City, allowing them to field a familiar starting XI after making expected changes in their previous match against Everton.

The well-rested quartet of De Bruyne, Grealish, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones are all set to return to the starting lineup. Grealish will once again engage in his intense battle with Real right-back Dani Carvajal, continuing the rivalry from the first leg.

Real Madrid also have only one injury concern to consider for the second leg, specifically on the left side of their defense. Eduardo Camavinga suffered a minor injury during their win over Getafe but is expected to be available for the clash at the Etihad. Similarly, David Alaba, Karim Benzema, and Rodrygo, who were absent in their recent league game, are likely to feature.

The visitors have received a triple defensive boost as Eder Militao and Carvajal return from Champions League and La Liga suspensions, respectively. Additionally, Ferland Mendy played 45 minutes in the last game after recovering from a calf issue.

With Militao's return, there are reports suggesting that Rodrygo could be sacrificed as Ancelotti considers a tactical reshuffle, possibly deploying Camavinga in a more familiar midfield role.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji; Stones, Rodri; Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Kroos, Camavinga, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr

EXPERT PREDICTION

Manchester City 2-1 Real Madrid

Setting up to exploit Man City's vulnerability on the counter, Real Madrid initially reaped the rewards of their tactical approach in front of their home crowd last week. Disregarding Ancelotti's European champions is often an unwise move.

After a cautious first leg, Wednesday's decisive showdown is expected to deliver an abundance of goals. However, with Man City's prolific attack relentlessly overpowering every opponent at the Etihad and possessing a greater arsenal of attacking talent, Guardiola's side is poised to exact revenge from their 2022 defeat. They are likely to secure their place in the final and move one step closer to claiming the coveted European title that has eluded them thus far.
 

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