Manchester City vs Real Madrid
In the last four of this season’s Champions League, the La Liga champions-elect face the Premier League holders, with the first leg of Manchester City and Real Madrid’s semi-final taking place at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
Pep Guardiola’s side required just one goal to advance to the quarterfinals, while Real Madrid ruined Chelsea’s ambitions of winning back-to-back European titles in a dramatic manner.
Team News
Manchester City
- While all players with one or two yellow cards have had their penalties removed, City will be without Joao Cancelo for the opening leg.The Portuguese picked up his third warning of the competition at the Wanda Metropolitano.
- Guardiola will be hoping to have Kyle Walker back from an ankle injury in time for Tuesday’s match. However, it’s unclear whether John Stones will recover from a muscular ailment in time.
- Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Riyad Mahrez are all expected to return to the first team this week. But Jesus has given Guardiola enough to think about by scoring four goals on Saturday in response to reports of a move away.
Real Madrid
- While Real Madrid has no suspension concerns for the first leg due to Eder Militao’s return from a suspension he served in the home loss to Chelsea, Ancelotti’s injury fears are growing after David Alaba was pulled off against Osasuna with a thigh ailment.
- Along with Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, and Mariano Diaz, the defender was limited to indoor work on Saturday, and Casemiro was not yet ready to return to team training. Ferland Mendy, on the other hand, was able to complete a portion of the session.
- Luka Modric was rested totally in the win over Osasuna, but he’ll be back in midfield alongside Toni Kroos, and Marcelo should be well enough to fill in for Mendy at left-back if necessary.
Prediction Analysis
Both respected managers should be confident of gaining a first-leg advantage at the Etihad, with Benzema and Vinicius capable of scoring goals out of nowhere for the visitors, despite defensive problems and absentees on both sides.
City, on the other hand, will not require a second invitation to break through a depleted Blancos defense in front of their own fans, and we anticipate an exciting first leg with plenty of goalmouth action to conclude all square.
Our prediction is Manchester City 2-2 Real Madrid.
Possible Lineup
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling;
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Marcelo; Kroos, Camavinga, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Junior;