Final-Worthy Duel: Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Final-Worthy Duel: Real Madrid vs Manchester City
With Real Madrid entering the tie on a 3-2 aggregate advantage from the first leg
The Spanish giants boast a remarkable record in the first leg of Champions League ties away from home – having won 39 times and only failing twice
Probable Line-ups
Real Madrid:
Courtois | Valverde, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy | Ceballos, Camavinga | Bellingham | Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
Manchester City:
Ederson | Lewis, Stones, Ruben Dias, Gvardiol | Nico Gonzalez, Bernardo Silva | Savinho, Foden, Marmoush | Haaland
The first leg once again proved that this fixture has the makings of a Champions League final. Manchester City managed to take the lead twice, yet, as is often the case, Real Madrid emerged victorious in their visit to Manchester.
Despite being drawn as favourites by many pundits following the first leg, doubts still linger over whether Los Blancos can comfortably progress at City’s expense, especially given the unpredictable nature of high-stakes football.
Adding another twist to the narrative, City – affectionately known as “the Citizens” – recently recorded an impressive 4-0 victory against Newcastle on their home turf, while Madrid had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their away match against Mallorca. These contrasting results have only heightened the tension ahead of tonight’s clash.
“We only have a slight advantage that we must capitalise on by repeating our performance from the first leg.
Carlo Ancelotti
Team News and Tactical Insights
For Carlo Ancelotti’s side, injuries remain a concern. Lucas Vazquez, Eder Militao, and Dani Carvajal are sidelined, though there is welcome news with Rudiger and Alaba returning to the fold.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s City are still missing Rodri, and the absence of Akanji continues to pose problems in defence.
Notably, Guardiola currently holds the edge in direct confrontations against Ancelotti, with a 6-5 record in their previous meetings.
Predictions
The latest betting odds reflect Real Madrid as heavy favourites. They are priced at 1.20 to qualify for the next round compared to City’s 4.60. In terms of regulation time outcomes, Madrid stand at 1.36 while City are offered at 6.60.
