Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Preview, predictions, expected line-ups and betting odds

Apr 26, 2016 at 2:04 PM

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Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Preview, predictions, expected line-ups and betting odds

After such a brilliant display in the UEFA Champions League, Manchester City totally deserved to make it to the Champions League Semi-finals. Manchester City’s boss Manuel Pellegrini said in the pre-match press conference that it was “an honour” to be at this stage of the competition while on the other hand Zinedine Zidane said that it is Real Madrid’s duty to reach the Semifinals.

Manchester City will look to turn their dream into reality by stepping one step closer to the Champions League trophy, when they face Real Madrid, the ten times UCL winners, in the first leg of the semi-final on Tuesday at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City have never been this far in the tournament, Pellegrini’s men have made history by reaching the Semi-finals and they will now play Madrid, who certainly have a more experienced squad with players like Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos or Luka Modric, who have played in big games and already lifted the Champions League trophy once.

It will be very important for Real Madrid to score more, as away goals are always crucial in UEFA Champions League. Manchester City scored twice at PSG and despite drawing both legs they made it to the Semi-finals on away goals. So obviously scoring more goals will make their job next Wednesday much easier. Although many pundits are saying Madrid are favourites, but City will surely give them a strong competition.

Team news

City’s Yaya Toure is ruled out of tonight’s game due to a thigh injury picked up during Saturday’s 4-0 win over Stoke in the Premier League. After recently overcoming from a heel injury, the former Barcelona midfielder’s absence is a setback.

Apart from Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri is the only other injured player in City’s squad, but is registered to play in UEFA Champions League, so even if he was fit, he would have been missing.

Captain Vincent Kompany – the player player with most injury issues this season for city is expected to return along with his Belgian team-mate Kevin De Bruyne after both of them were rested at this week’s Premier League match.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, both the Real Madrid forwards picked up injuries, but it is expected that both of them will be fit to start at the Etihad Stadium.

Ronaldo did not play in the 3-2 close win over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga this weekend after pulling up with a muscle injury in the midweek win over the strong Villarreal CF.

Karim Benzema also limped off during the Rayo Vallecano match with a small hamstring problem of grade 1 but Zidane says both should be “100 per cent” to visit the Etihad Stadium and face City.

Real Madrid: 4-3-3. Keylor Navas-Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo-Casemiro, Modric, Kroos-Bale, Ronaldo, Jese.

Real Madrid

 

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Mangala, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando; Navas, De Bruyne, Silva; Agüero.

Man City

 

Key Facts and Stats:

Real Madrid haven’t lost in their last eight games against any English side in the Champions League (W6 D2). The last English side who knocked Real Madrid out of the competition were Liverpool, back in 2008/09 (5-0 on aggregate in the last 16).

City have kept only one clean sheet in the last 10 Champions League games they have played against a Spanish opposition,  the last one was in a 3-0 away win against Villarreal CF in November 2011.

Surprisingly, six of City’s last nine shots on target in the UEFA Champions League have hit the back of the net.

Manchester City have scored more goals in the last 15 minutes of their Champions League matches (7) than any other team this season in this competition.

Prediction and Betting odds: 

Manchester City – 2/1

Draw – 12/5

Real Madrid – 29/20

According to the pundits, it will be easy for Real Madrid to beat the Sky Blues, and most of the reliable ones have predicted the scoreline to be 2-1 in Real Madrid’s favour.

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