Manchester City have the difficult task of overcoming Real Madrid in the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabéu. The defeat in the first leg of the round of 32 (2-3) will force the sky blues to take the initiative and take risks to turn the situation around. In front, with the support of their fans and a slight advantage in the aggregate, will be Carlo Ancelotti's pupils, who lost the lead of La Liga in the last round. This is already a European classic, although it is being played in a round with very little glamour for a duel of this calibre. This Wednesday, at 9:00 p.m., there will only be one.
Both teams have important losses in their ranks. For the whites, Carvajal and Militao are long-term injured and are not expected until, at the earliest, the end of the current campaign. However, Lucas Vázquez, Rüdiger and Alaba are recovered. The Galician, as the Madrid coach admitted in a press conference, is not fit to be a starter, while the German is aiming to be a starter. In the other corner, Guardiola has the recent operation on Akanji's central abductor, which will keep him off the pitch for 10 weeks, in addition to Rodri and Oscar Bobb, who have been in the infirmary for the entire season.
Can City eliminate Madrid?
The 'cityzen' team arrives with good feelings after beating Newcastle United (4-0) with a hat trick from Omar Marmoush. Likewise, Nico González's weight in the match has been high. The recent signings are already working hard. Likewise, Haaland and Grealish have overcome their respective discomforts and will be available for the attempt to assault the Santiago Bernabéu. The biggest headache for Guardiola is the right back. After Walker's departure on loan to Milan, he has lost the only specialist. Akanji was the choice in the first leg but, with his injury, the issue is between Rico Lewis and John Stones.
Despite the comfortable victory in the last match of the Premier League, the coach from Santpedor does not believe that his players can turn things around against Real Madrid. After the match, he was asked about this issue and his answer was completely pessimistic: "The percentage of qualification, I don't know if it would reach one percent. It will be minimal," he said. However, in the press conference before the flight to the Spanish capital, he claimed to have bluffed: "I lied to you. For the first time you didn't believe me. I said that comment because we were away and nobody gave us a chance. The 1% was there and as the days go by, you get encouraged. We'll try to get through. That way Carlo doesn't have to tell me anything before the game."
On the other hand, Real Madrid drew against Osasuna in their last LaLiga match. Similarly, Atlético drew against RC Celta de Vigo. Both 1-1. With the double failure of the teams from the Spanish capital, Barça took advantage of the opportunity to beat Rayo Vallecano (1-0) and place themselves at the top of the table. The Whites therefore arrive at the European clash after losing their national leadership. Although the result is positive for the Merengues, in a match of such high level anything can happen.
The keys to the match
Manchester City were not the dominant team in the first leg that they had seen in other Champions League editions. The poor season has taken its toll on them mentally and they are betting on more conservative approaches. They do not try to force their rivals to make mistakes, but rather wait for them to happen and try to take advantage of them. However, if they want to make it to the last 16, they will have to take a step forward. That is one of the great keys to the match, as the visitors' insecurities will be exposed, at the mercy of the voracious Madrid forward line.
Another vital aspect that Pep will have to decide with stern diligence is who will occupy the right-back position. On the one hand, there is Rico Lewis, a converted pivot with severe defensive deficiencies but fast, and the other option is John Stones, a centre-back who has already occupied that position on several occasions. Unless there is a new experiment for the cause, the paths are those mentioned. It is a complex issue, as the chosen one will have to cover for the extremely fast and prolific Vinicius, as well as deal with Mbappé's falls on the left wing.
Marmoush, after his stellar performance against Newcastle, could repeat on the left wing. If Guardiola gives continuity to the eleven from the last match, Foden would be the attacking midfielder, Savinho the right winger and Haaland the striker. Behind, a priori, Nico González will start in a double pivot, surely accompanied by Gündogan or John Stones, a decision that will depend on who is the right back. It is a very vertical eleven, destined to attack the spaces, which would try to force a depleted Real Madrid defense.
Whatever the case, what is clear is that the British team is obliged to put in a higher gear than in the first leg. Likewise, they will have to cover their backs so as not to come out scalded from a Santiago Bernabéu that grows on the big nights of the Champions League. A duel of stratospheric proportions that, although it catches both teams in a bad moment, promises to be a spectacle.