Manchester City will be out to avenge last season’s heartbreaking loss to Real Madrid when the two teams square off once again in their quest to reach the UEFA Champions League final which will take place in Istanbul on the 10th of June.
The Cityzens are still involved in three competitions which has raised a glimmer of hope, among the fans, of completing the daunting treble this campaign. The Sky Blues will face arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final on 3rd June while they are in a neck and neck fight with Arsenal for the Premier League title.
Coming to the game, Pep Guardiola will be desperate to make sure he gets it right after a series of disappointing experiences in Europe’s top competition since he left Barcelona all those years ago.
MANCHESTER CITY TRAVELLING SQUAD
Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Kalvin Phillips, John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Aymeric Laporte, Rodrigo, Stefan Ortega Moreno, Kevin De Bruyne, Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Sergio Gomez, Manuel Akanji, Riyad Mahrez, Ederson, Scott Carson, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis
Nathan Ake will be a big miss for the English giants and Pep will hope he gets his defensive combination right in his absence.
PREDICTED MAN CITY LINEUP VS REAL MADRID (3-2-4-1)
DEFENCE
Ederson is expected to retain his place in goal. Stefan Ortega has been breathing down his neck in the last couple of weeks but the Brazilian will be preferred owing to his experience and ball-distribution skills.
Kyle Walker is expected to feature in the 3-man backline in the Man City lineup given the threat Vinicius Jr. poses on the flanks.
Ruben Dias should feature in the middle while Manuel Akanji is likely to get the nod over Aymeric Laporte on the left.
MIDFIELD
John Stones has taken to his new inverted role in midfield like duck to water and he is expected to partner Rodri in the middle of the park.
ATTACK
Jack Grealish is expected to return to the Man City lineup on the left while Bernardo Silva is likely to be preferred to Riyad Mahrez on the opposite flank.
Kevin de Bruyne and the in-form Ilkay Gundogan are likely to be the two no.8s in the Man City lineup. Gundogan had a bittersweet outing against Leeds United, scoring two and missing a penalty, the events leading up to which was later much discussed in the media and by the manager.
ATTACK
Erling Haaland will be leading the Man City lineup and will be taking the fight to Los Blancos. His presence will certainly be something which the opposition will be wary of and the City fans will hope he is the difference-maker on the night.
