Match preview
After an enthralling first leg at Etihad Stadium, Manchester City and Real Madrid will battle again at Santiago Bernabéu in the second leg of the Champions’ League semifinal.
The first leg was an exciting seven-goal thriller that almost looked like a basketball match with end-to-end goal scoring which is befitting of a UEFA Champions League clash between two big European clubs. The game essentially lived up to its hype and anticipation.
With so much said about a lost opportunity for Pep Guardiola’s side for failing to win convincingly in the first leg, the second leg is sure to deliver much more excitement.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were recently crowned La Liga champions for the 35th time and will go into the fixture at home with one goal at the back of their mind, stopping a very potent City attack.
As City will be relying on master creator, Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus to carry on their respective assisting and goal scoring forms, Madrid will be hoping Karin Benzema comes on the day with his scoring boots.
The 34 years old has scored seven (7) goals in his last 5 matches including an audacious panenka penalty against City in the first leg.
With a single goal separating the Blues and Los Blancos, a one-goal win for City will see them qualify and the same scoreline for Real Madrid will take them to extra time. Hence, Madrid must win with a two-goal margin in regulation time to qualify for the final.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City head-to-head and form guide
| Champions League Head-to-Head |
| 26 Apr 2022 – Man City 4-3 Real Madrid 07 Aug 2020 – Man City 2-1 Real Madrid 26 Feb 2020 – Real Madrid 1-2 Man City 04 May 2016 – Real Madrid 1-0 Man City 26 Apr 2016 – Man City 0-0 Real Madrid |
| Real Madrid last 5 games |
| Real Madrid 4-0 Espanyol Manchester City 4-3 Real Madrid Osasuna 1-3 Real Madrid Sevilla 2-3 Real Madrid Real Madrid 2-3 Chelsea |
| Real Madrid’s form in their last 5 games in all competition: L-W-W-L-W |
| Man City last 5 games |
| Leeds United 0-4 Manchester City Manchester City 4-3 Real Madrid Manchester City 5-1 Watford Manchester City 3-0 Brighton and Hove Albion Manchester City 2-3 Liverpool |
| Manchester City’s form in their last 5 games in all competition: L-W-W-W-W |
Real Madrid vs Manchester City team news
City played the first leg without both fullbacks, Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo, however with Cancelo featuring in their game over the weekend and experienced right-back Walker, training with the team today, it looks like he may return to the starting eleven after suffering an ankle injury in the quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.
Sadly, John Stones looks doubtful to play as he will be assessed after he limped off Madrid in the first half.
Guardiola’s side are well-rested after he made five changes to his starting XI against Leed United, with Oleksandr Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Stones and Riyad Mahrez replaced by Joao Cancelo, Nathan Ake, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling.
For Madrid, David Alaba is once again facing a race against time to be fit after recovering from a hamstring injury to start in the first leg, only to suffer a setback and go off at half-time.
Casemiro is now fully fit, but Eden Hazard remains out as he recovers from an ankle operation and Gareth Bale missed the weekend’s title celebrations with back spasms.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City prediction
We think Real Madrid will put up a fight that will be championed by Benzema but Man City will prevail with their many talented players. However, they will score in the match.
Therefore, we’re predicting Correct score 1-2, Manchester City to win and Gabriel Jesus and Karim Benzema to score.
Match Odds
| Real Madrid to win 3.22 Man City to win 2.16 Draw, a whopping 4.02 |
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