Real Madrid vs Manchester City is the upcoming second leg match in this year's UEFA Champions League as a mouth watering heavyweight clash awaits everyone at the Bernebeau tonight.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City: Match Preview:
Last week's tussle between the respective champions of England and Spain at the Etihad was an instant classic, with early goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus seeing the hosts race into a 2-0 lead inside 11 minutes.
City could and should have scored a hatful more before the evergreen Ballon d'Or front-runner Karim Benzema reduced the deficit in trademark fashion, with second-half goals from Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva then sandwiched between a sensational Vinicius Junior effort and followed by an outrageous Benzema Panenka penalty that left a thrilling tie brilliantly poised at 4-3.
Despite being ahead, there is a sense of real potential missed opportunity as Pep Guardiola's Premier League leaders head to the Bernabeu, where Real are typically so dominant, though very nearly came unstuck in humiliating fashion against Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
Both sides followed up that unforgettable first leg with thumping 4-0 domestic victories at the weekend - City winning at Leeds to regain top spot from Liverpool and Carlo Ancelotti's Real celebrating clinching their 35th LaLiga title after a demolition of Espanyol.
Team News:
Real Madrid:
Real Madrid boss Ancelotti took a risk rushing David Alaba back for the first leg following his injury woes, and the Austrian was taken off at half time at the Etihad and subsequently missed the title-clinching win over Espanyol alongside Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale and Luka Jovic - the latter of whom is now back.
Alaba has made the squad for the second leg but may only make the bench having not trained yet, while Eder Militao and Nacho Fernandez will also return from domestic suspensions to form a strong Blancos rearguard. Isco has also missed out on a place in the squad due to illness.
The likes of Benzema, Vinicius, Toni Kroos and Ferland Mendy were all benched at the weekend with this encounter in mind, and Rodrygo will hope to keep his place in the final third after starting in the first leg and bagging a brace against Espanyol.
Manchester City:
As far as Man City are concerned, Guardiola will welcome Joao Cancelo back with open arms following his first-leg suspension, and Kyle Walker will travel with the group despite his ankle injury.
Nathan Ake trudged off with a knock in the win over Leeds and will need to be assessed, and John Stones is also absent, so it could be another restless evening for Oleksandr Zinchenko on the left of the City defence.
De Bruyne, Silva and Riyad Mahrez are all primed to return to the first XI after being named among the substitutes at Elland Road, while Real's nemesis Gabriel Jesus prepares to spearhead the charge amid his hot streak of goalscoring form.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City: Head to Head:
Real Madrid have a fairly impressive overall record against Manchester City and have won five out of nine matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Manchester City's four victories. The first leg between these two teams was only the second semi-final first leg in the history of the UEFA Champions League to witness seven goals scored.
Manchester City have now won their last three matches against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League - only Ajax and Bayern Munich have managed four victories on the trot against Los Blancos.
Recent performances in all competitions:
Real Madrid:
3-2 loss against Chelsea
3-2 win over Sevilla
3-1 win over Osasuna
4-3 loss against Manchester City
4-0 win over Espanyol
Manchester City:
3-2 loss against Liverpool
3-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion
5-1 win over Watford
4-3 win over Real Madrid
4-0 win over Leeds United
Real Madrid vs Manchester City: Predicted Line-ups:
Real Madrid:Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr
Manchester City:Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Jesus, Foden