Real Madrid vs Man City: UCL Semi-final, 1st Leg Match Preview, Predicted Line-ups and Fantasy XI

The bright lights of the Bernabeu shine down on another tantalising Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night as Real Madrid vs Man City happening in the Spanish capital for the first leg.

Match Details:

• Location: Madrid, Spain
• Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
• Date: Tuesday 9 May
• Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
• Referee: Artur Dias (POR)
• VAR: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)

Real Madrid vs Man City: Match Preview

Manchester City will hit the road to square up against defending champions Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Los Blancos recently won the Copa del Rey and will head into this fixture high on confidence. Meanwhile, the visitors have recently claimed the top spot in the Premier League. They have a one-point lead and a game in hand over second-placed Arsenal.

Manchester ➡️ Madrid! 🇪🇸@Dsquared2 🤝 #ManCity #ad pic.twitter.com/JkV1Tpm3Cf

— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 8, 2023

The previous meeting between the two teams was in the semi-finals of the Champions League last season. It was an edge-of-the-seat thriller that saw Real Madrid come out on top. Manchester City won the first leg 4-3 and managed to score first in the second leg. However, Rodrygo scored a brace late into the second half to level things up and Benzema fired from the spot to guide the Merengues to the final.

Los Blancos have not been at their best of late. They have dropped quite a few points in La Liga and are no longer in the race for the league title despite being second on the table. However, their recent Copa del Rey success would have surely lifted their morale. The team in white are heading into this fixture having defeated Osasuna in the final of the Spanish cup competition. Real Madrid managed to seal a 2-1 win and lift yet another silverware.

While they are heading into this all-important fixture on the back of a win. Overall they haven't been at their best. Carlo Ancelotti's men have lost two of their last five matches. And, will hope that they don't repeat their errors against a deadly City outfit.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola's team has been on fire of late. They have been unbeaten in their last 20 matches in all competitions. They have won 17 out of those fixtures. Manchester City were lagging behind in the Premier League title race but this incredible run has helped them claim the top spot with just a few games to go.

Manchester City head into this fixture on the back of a 2-1 over Leeds United. While it was not their best game, the team in light blue have a lot of quality in their squad which can surely make Madrid's life difficult.

PEP 💬 We arrived here last season with encouragement to get to the final. We played really good in both games. But what happened happened. We are here one year later. We are not here for revenge. This is completely different to last season.

— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 8, 2023

They are on a five-match winning streak and will look to make it six in a row when they square up against Carlo Ancelotti's team. However, it won't be easy, as they are well aware of how dangerous a Madrid team can be having been at the receiving last time out.

Team News:

Real Madrid:

Eder Militao is suspended after picking up a yellow card in each leg of the quarter-final against Chelsea, while Ferland Mendy remains sidelined through injury.

📋✅ Our squad for the match 🆚 @ManCity!#UCL pic.twitter.com/Ab466KIEh3

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 8, 2023

Man City:

Nathan Ake is out with a hamstring injury, which is a blow to City as he has had a great season. But youngster Cole Palmer is the only other player out of the picture.

Real Madrid vs Man City: Head to Head

Real Madrid and Manchester City are on an even footing as far as the head-to-head record is concerned and have won four games apiece out of the 10 matches that have been played between the two teams.

Manchester City have won three of their last four matches against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League but did lose their last such game by a 3-1 margin at the Santiago Bernabeu.

⚽ @Benzema ⚡#UCL pic.twitter.com/FdkMEk5cmh

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 8, 2023

Manchester City defeated Real Madrid by a 2-1 margin at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2020 and could become the first English team to secure away wins at the stadium on multiple occasions.

After losing only two of his first 15 matches against Real Madrid in all competitions, Pep Guardiola has lost three of his last six games against Los Blancos as a manager.

Predicted Line-ups:

Real Madrid predicted lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga; Valverde, Kroos, Modric; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Junior

Man City predicted lineup (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji; Stones, Rodri; Silva, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland

RMA vs MCI: Fantasy XI

Courtois; Rudiger, Alaba, Walker, Camavinga; Valverde, Rodri, Grealish; Haaland, Benzema, Vinicius.