2 years ago
Real Madrid vs Manchester City - Kick-Off Time ,Preview ,prediction, available players,team news, lineups, key players to miss the clash
Following one of the most extraordinary Champions League semi-final first-leg matches in recent memory, Real Madrid and Manchester City meet for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
Pep Guardiola's side won an incredible battle 4-3 at the Etihad Stadium, but their hosts are no strangers to incredible European comebacks in the Spanish capital.
Karim Benzema's confidence, cheek, and panache in producing a panenka penalty in the Champions League semi-finals typified the barnstorming season he is currently having for the newly-crowned La Liga champions, who were indebted to their two star forwards at the Etihad in the first leg.
Benzema's brace either side of Vinicius Junior's stunning run and finish has kept Real Madrid's tie alive whose defence was also breached at will by the Citizens, who scored four goals on the night through Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden
TEAM CHANGES
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti took a risk by rushing David Alaba back for the first leg after his injury problems, and the Austrian was taken off at half time at the Etihad and missed the title-clinching win over Espanyol alongside Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale, and Luka Jovic - the latter of whom is now back.
Alaba has been named to the squad for the second leg but has yet to train, while Eder Militao and Nacho Fernandez will also return from domestic suspensions to form a strong Blancos backline. Isco has also been left out of the squad due to injury Rodrygo, who started the first leg and scored twice against Espanyol, will be hoping to keep his place in the final third.
Guardiola will warmly welcome Joao Cancelo back after his first-leg suspension, and Kyle Walker will travel with the squad despite an ankle injury.
Nathan Ake limped off with a knock in the win over Leeds and will be assessed, and John Stones is also out, so it could be another tense evening for Oleksandr Zinchenko on the City left flank.
After being named as substitutes at Elland Road, De Bruyne, Silva, and Riyad Mahrez are all expected to return to the starting lineup, while Real Madrid's nemesis Gabriel Jesus prepares to spearhead the charge amid his hot streak of goalscoring form.
Real Madrid possible lineup:
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr
Manchester City possible lineup:
Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Jesus, Foden
PREDICTION : Real Madrid 2-2 Manchester City (Man City win 6-5 on aggregate)
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