Real Madrid-Manchester City is a Champions League quarterfinal first leg match and is played Tuesday at 9 p.m.: TV, streaming, likely lineups, predictions.
For the third year in a row, Real Madrid and Manchester City will cross paths in the Champions League knockout stage, ready to vie for a pass to the semifinals and to provide excitement and spectacle.
We are facing not only an early final – they are undoubtedly the two big favorites, the ones who have won the cup in the last two editions – but a real one, since a year ago Pep Guardiola’s men took revenge (and with interest, too) for the resounding comeback they suffered in 2022, when Carlo Ancelotti’s Blancos managed to turn everything around in the last minutes and rise from their ashes. This time the most anticipated match will be staged in the quarters, and the winner will then face one between Arsenal and Bayern Munich, undoubtedly with the status of favorites.
One hundred and eighty minutes (or something more) of pure pathos await us, then. All to be enjoyed, since on the green rectangle will be the strongest teams in the world, coached by two of the most successful and iconic coaches in the history of the sport.
Real Madrid more rested
Carlo Ancelotti, who is preparing to cross the 200-bench mark in the Champions League (none like him), and his men get there with a slight edge.
In fact, last weekend they did not play, being able to focus exclusively on the cup game. La Liga stopped for the King’s Cup final: the last match the Merengues played was against Athletic Bilbao, folded 2-0 at the “Bernabeu,” which has become a futuristic facility after the restyling. Real, unlike City, has the domestic title in its grasp, with Barcelona second a full 8 lengths away. The Blancos in the last period have not shined due to a few too many absences but are still undefeated since January. The Cityzens are dreaming of another Triplete – it would be their second consecutive one – and although they are less continuous than last season, they are playing it on all fronts. In the last seven days they got rid of first Aston Villa (4-1) and then Crystal Palace (2-4). Six points that allowed them to keep pace with Arsenal and Liverpool, direct contenders for the title, currently at +1.
Ancelotti must do without the injured Courtois and Alaba: Lunin will go in goal, while it will be Nacho’s turn to keep Rudiger company in the center of defense. Tchouaméni in goal, preferred to Modric, in front instead Bellingham will act behind Vinicius and Rodrygo. On the other side, Guardiola will launch Doku in the offensive trident with Haaland and Foden. The only doubts relate to the condition of Aké and Walker, both of whom are not at their best.
The prediction
Real Madrid will try to take advantage of the extra days of rest to get at least one positive result in front of its public. Going to England with the obligation of having to come back – the Blancos have always lost in their last “visits” to Etihad Stadium, including last May’s traumatic 4-0 win – could be too dangerous. In our opinion they will succeed, in a challenge that promises to be balanced and at least one goal on each side. Manchester City from the midfield up can rely on strong players of the caliber of Rodri, Foden, De Bruyne and Haaland but this year they are not particularly shining in the non-possession phase of the ball, conceding a bit too much and conceding too many goals.
The probable lineups of Real Madrid-Manchester City
REAL MADRID (4-3-1-2): Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Kroos; Bellingham; Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Ruben Dias, Akanji; Bernardo Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Doku, Haaland, Foden.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
