UCL: Manchester City vs. Real Madrid – prediction, team news, lineups
It will be a clash of champions as The La Liga champions meet the Premier League holders in the last four of this season’s Champions League, and the Etihad Stadium plays host to the first leg of Manchester City and Real Madrid’s semi-final on Tuesday night.
Pep Guardiola’s men needed just the one goal to scrape past Atletico Madrid in the quarters, while Real ended Chelsea’s hopes of back-to-back European crowns in dramatic fashion.
Undefeated at the Etihad in the Champions League since a 2-1 loss to Lyon back in September 2018, Man City have already found the back of the net 13 times in their five home matches in the tournament this season and navigated both legs of their Atletico and Sporting Lisbon ties without conceding a single goal.
After being forced to overturn a 1-0 deficit to get the better of Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the tournament, the tables very nearly turned for Real Madrid during the visit of Chelsea, who were on the verge of completing a phenomenal comeback from a 3-1 first-leg loss at Stamford Bridge.
However, one of the passes of the season from Luka Modric allowed substitute Rodrygo to volley home and force extra time, where the head of Karim Benzema – who else – once again sunk the Blues to book Real Madrid’s spot in the last four of the competition.
Read: “There are so many pressures you deal with at the national team level” – Kwesi Appiah
Indeed, Los Blancos enter the first leg on a six-game winning streak away from home across all competitions – scoring three goals in each of their last three on rival turf – but no side has ever won away from home against two separate English teams during the knockout rounds of a single Champions League tournament.
Tuesday’s first leg will mark the seventh meeting between familiar foes Real and Man City in the Champions League, with the Citizens claiming a pair of 2-1 wins in the 2019-20 last 16, but Los Blancos had previously won 1-0 over two legs in the 2015-16 semi-finals before Guardiola touched down in Manchester.
Manchester City Champions League form:
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Manchester City form (all competitions):
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Real Madrid Champions League form:
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Real Madrid form (all competitions):
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Team News
While all players who had only amassed one or two yellow have now seen their infringements wiped, City will have to cope without Joao Cancelo for the first leg, as the Portuguese picked up his third caution of the tournament at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The likes of Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez will all anticipate recalls to the first XI this week, but Jesus has given Guardiola plenty of food for thought by responding to links with a move away with a quartet of strikes on Saturday.
While Real Madrid do not have any suspension concerns for the first leg – Eder Militao is back from a ban served in the home loss to Chelsea – Ancelotti’s injury problems are mounting after David Alaba was taken off with a thigh issue against Osasuna.
The defender was restricted to indoor work on Saturday alongside Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz – all three of whom will miss out – but Alaba has made the squad alongside Casemiro and Ferland Mendy and could earn some minutes here.
Luka Modric was rested entirely for the win over Osasuna but will reprise his midfield role here alongside the returning Toni Kroos, while Marcelo should be fit enough to deputise at left-back for Mendy if needed.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Marcelo; Kroos, Camavinga, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Junior
What the coaches say
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager:
“History is there, we can’t change it, but it’s 11v11 with one ball moving. Many good teams are not here, one day we won’t be here. I told the players to enjoy this moment, it’s an honour. Of course you want to reach the final, but never underestimate what we have done to be here again.”
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach:
“[Eduardo Camavinga] can play from the start but it’s clear when he comes in, he gives energy to the team. When the intensity drops, if you have Camavinga, Rodrygo and Valverde fresh, you can change the game with the energy they bring.”
Predictions
Manchester City 2-1 Real Madrid
