Manchester City FC
Real Madrid CF
Real Madrid CF
CITY OUT TO PROVE A POINT IN EUROPE AFTER OVERTURNING UEFA BAN
Manchester City to win 2-1 on the night, and 4-2 on aggregate.
Manchester City has one eye on the quarter-finals of the Champions League and knows that they can guarantee their place by avoiding defeat at home to 13-times champions Real Madrid.
Recently overturning a two-year UEFA ban, meaning they are free to play in next season’s competition, they will be keen to upset the European elite in search for one piece of silverware yet to sit in their trophy cabinet.
Despite falling behind in the first leg in Madrid, a spectacular performance from midfield talisman De Bruyne ensured that City came away with their first-ever win over Los Blancos.
Real Madrid has its own reasons to be optimistic, despite needing to score at least twice to overturn the first-leg defeats. Their brilliant form since the Covid-19 restart saw them leap from 2nd in La Liga, two points behind Barcelona, to end up 7 points ahead as champions by the end of the season.
In fact, since the restart, Real are statistically the second-best team across Europe, racking up 28 points over the past ten games (only Bayern Munich have more).
Form Guide (all comps.): W W L W W
Reasons to be cheerful
Reasons to be fearful
Manchester City have played some sparkling football at times this season, particularly since the restart. Although they lost their Premier League crown to Liverpool, by thrashing the new champions 4-0 last month they have proved they are heading into this crunch tie in top form.
Pep Guardiola will undoubtedly miss superstar striker Sergio Aguero, who recently had surgery on a knee injury which ended his season. However, top scorer this season, Raheem Sterling (30 in all comps) and Aguero’s understudy Gabriel Jesus (on 22) will be ready to step into his shoes.
Star Man – Kevin De Bruyne
The midfield maestro will be looking to add to his tally of 15 goals and 22 assists already this season, and Real will be wary of the danger his creativity can cause from virtually anywhere in front of goal. What a season he has enjoyed so far.
Form Guide (all comps.): W W W W D
Reasons to be cheerful:
Reasons to be fearful:
The words ‘Real Madrid’ and ‘Champions League’ fit together so perfectly, it’s sometimes impossible to consider anyone else favourites in the competition. After all, they’ve lifted the trophy four times in the past six seasons.
Zidane’s men will need something special, however, if their to overturn a 2-1 deficit, especially against a side as free-flowing and in as good form as Man City are currently.
Despite clinching their 34th league title last month, they’ll be concerned that €150m signing Eden Hazard has yet to reach anything like top form and they’re missing their captain Sergio Ramos through suspension.
They will need a memorable performance to stay in the competition.
Star Man – Karim Benzema
The French striker is arguably in his best form since joining Los Blancos, stepping up as the main man since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. He has 25 goals this season, including 7 in the last 10 matches.
On paper, plenty is pointing in City’s favour: they have a 2-1 advantage from the first-leg (both important away goals), they are playing at home and have been outscoring teams for fun in recent weeks.
Real Madrid will not take a beating lying down. The players and their manager know full well what it takes to win this competition, something their opponents have never experienced. They are in top form themselves and know they have the firepower to grab the goals they need.
With talented players wherever you look, this is sure to be a great match between two European heavyweights.
Manchester City to win 2-1 on the night, and 4-2 on aggregate.
