After an electrifying first leg, Manchester City and Real Madrid are set to conflict as soon as extra of their Champions League quarterfinal second leg on the Etihad on Wednesday.
The match on the Santiago Bernabeu led to an exhilarating 3-3 draw, with each groups showcasing their attacking prowess.
The stakes are greater this time round, because the winner of Wednesday’s match will advance to the semifinals, the place they are going to face both Arsenal or Bayern Munich.
Games between these two European giants in Madrid are at all times extremely anticipated, and final week’s first leg was no exception.
The match noticed early targets from Rodrygo and Ruben Dias’ personal objective, which canceled out Bernardo Silva’s gorgeous free kick.
Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol then scored for City, however Real Madrid equalized with an unbelievable volley from Federico Valverde.
The return fixture guarantees to be one other thrilling encounter, with each groups wanting to safe a spot within the Champions League semifinals.
Title holders Manchester City have been on a goal-scoring spree, netting six occasions in every of their final two Premier League matches.
Under Pep Guardiola, they overcame Crystal Palace after falling behind after which went on to dismantle relegation-threatened Luton Town 5-1 over the weekend.
The smiles on the faces of the City gamers would have been huge on Sunday, as losses for Arsenal and Liverpool meant that the treble winners now maintain a two-point lead on the high of the Premier League standings.
However, some pessimistic Arsenal and Liverpool followers consider that this lead isn’t insurmountable.
City are at present on an unbeaten streak of 27 matches throughout all competitions since their defeat to Aston Villa in December.
A win this week would additionally see them equal a club-record 42-game unbeaten streak at dwelling, a document set again in 1921.
Despite City’s spectacular document on the Etihad, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid are identified for his or her extraordinary Champions League comebacks.
They are but to style defeat within the 2023-24 Champions League and have a 100% document from their 4 away video games within the present version, albeit with slim one-goal margins.
Los Blancos’ unbeaten streak is probably not as outstanding because the Cityzens’, however their 15-game run with out defeat remains to be spectacular.
They have a historical past of profitable comebacks within the Champions League and might be trying to proceed that pattern towards City.
Don Carlo’s males’s current 1-0 victory over Mallorca, courtesy of a solitary strike from Aurelien Tchouameni, has saved them eight factors clear on the high of La Liga.
They head to Manchester with confidence, figuring out that they’ve an opportunity to advance regardless of not profitable the primary leg of their quarterfinal tie.
While the Spanish capital facet has solely superior from two of their final 10 Champions League ties when failing to win the primary leg, each had been towards Manchester United.
However, their current historical past towards City’s noisy neighbors means that previous outcomes could not maintain a lot significance on this encounter.
Guardiola and his crew obtained a big health enhance forward of the Luton match, with Phil Foden, who was substituted within the first leg resulting from a knock, and the recovering Kevin De Bruyne each making the squad.
Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake additionally returned, suggesting they are going to be match for the return fixture.
The solely minor concern for the holders was John Stones, who missed the Luton recreation resulting from discomfort, in accordance with Guardiola.
With the quartet prone to be out there, City may have all their key gamers prepared for the essential match. Rodri, Silva, and Foden are anticipated to return after a relaxation on Saturday.
On the opposite hand, Real Madrid continues to take care of long-term accidents to Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba. Eder Militao, who’s regaining match health, may exchange the suspended Tchouameni.
Militao was introduced on instead within the weekend’s victory over Mallorca, however his lack of minutes may fit towards him.
Club captain Nacho Fernandez is prone to associate Antonio Rudiger in protection, with Eduardo Camavinga anticipated to proceed in midfield after his spectacular efficiency within the first leg.
Source: www.dailysabah.com