Will Real Madrid be able to stop free scoring Man City?
1st leg of the Champions League Semi Final tie sees Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid clash at the Etihad Stadium, tonight.
Both the teams are on top of their respective leagues. Winning the league is just a formality for Real Madrid, given they are 15 points in front of second placed FC Barcelona.
Whereas Manchester City are in a 2 horse race for the Premier League title alongside Liverpool FC. Both Liverpool FC and Manchester City are playing the Uefa Champions League Semi Final.
Liverpool FC face the second Spanish team in Villlarreal.
Quarter Finals results
Manchester City won against Real Madrid’s derby rivals Atletico Madrid, 1-0 on aggregate. Kevin De Bruyne scored in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium, which was enough for City to win the game as well as the tie.
Real Madrid on the other hand faced defending Champions Chelsea FC. In the first leg, French Forward Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick at the Stamford Bridge to help Madrid to a 3-1 win.
Many thought the tie was done and buried but, Chelsea had a different idea. They scored 3 goals at the Santiago Bernabeau, before a delicious cross by Luka Modric helped Rodrygo score a goal to make it 4-4 on aggregate.
Again, Karim Benzema was there at the right place, at the right time, to help the record champions Real Madrid through to the semi finals.
Injury Update
Manchester City were dealt a blow in their win vs Atletico Madrid, as they are without a proper right back for todays match. Kylee Walker went of injured at the Wanda Metropolitano and Joao Cancelo picked up a second yellow card and as a result, will miss this leg.
It will be interesting to see who plays at right back or will Pep Guardiola change the formation and make someone play at right wingback.
Probable Starting XI
Manchester City – Ederson(gk), John Stones, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden.
Real Madrid – Thibaut Courtois(gk), Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Karim Benzema.
It will be an intense high quality football clash, whose result wll be decided over 2 legs.
The second leg of the tie will be played at Santiago Bernabeau, on 5th May, Thursday,
The winner of this tie will either meet Liverpool FC or Villarreal CF.
We will have to wait and watch, if Real Madrid or Villarreal CF can stop there from being a 3rd all English UCL final, in 4 years.
