Man City vs Real Madrid Preview | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League
Apr 17, 2024 published
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
Man City
PREDICTED XI (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Stones, Rodri; Foden, De Bruyne, Silva, Grealish; Haaland
Real Madrid
PREDICTED XI (4-1-2-1-2): Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Militao, Mendy; Kroos; Valverde, Camavinga; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior
PREDICTION
In the 2022 semi-finals, City narrowly edged past Madrid with a thrilling 4-3 victory at the Etihad, only to suffer a dramatic defeat in the second leg. However, last season emphasised the advantage of playing the second leg at the Etihad even more, as City secured a draw in the Spanish capital before dominating Madrid with a resounding 4-0 win at home. Guardiola, as seen in the recently released Netflix documentary showcasing City's treble success, highlighted the significance of playing the second leg at home. Ancelotti has expressed confidence in his team's ability to perform better than their previous heavy defeat, but City remain strong favourites. The return of Kyle Walker further reinforces their advantage, given his success in neutralising Vinicius Junior, the key player for the visitors, in recent encounters.