Verdict: Jude Bellingham over 0.5 shots on target
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Luckster
In what is a heavyweight Champions League showdown on Tuesday night, Manchester City and Real Madrid will meet at the Etihad.
Manchester City
Starting with the hosts, while Manchester City might have eventually avoided an infamous FA Cup exit away at League One outfit Leyton Orient over the weekend, Pep Guardiola’s side have drastically failed to find top gear with any kind of fluidity. Currently sat 15 points adrift in the Premier League title chase, the former Barcelona boss will be bracing himself for another heavyweight challenge here. Despite dragging themselves to a Champions League play-off ticket last week as they claimed a 3-1 victory against Club Brugge, the Sky Blues have shown some glaring defensive struggles. Suffering a European collapse away at French giants PSG last week as they fell to an action-packed 4-2 defeat, Man City have recorded just a sole clean sheet from any of their previous seven appearances across all competitions.
Manchester City Team News
While Manchester City might be hopeful that midfield talisman Rodri will be able to feature in some part before the end of the season, the Spanish international will play no part here. Likewise, Guardiola’s side are also expected to be without the defensive duo of Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake.
Handed a full FA Cup rest away at Leyton Orient last weekend, striking sensation Erling Haaland will make a full return on Tuesday night. With Guardiola short on defensive options in midweek, former Wolves star Matheus Nunes should once again start at right-back.
Real Madrid
As for the visitors, while some in Carlo Ancelotti’s camp might have been frustrated over the weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate at home against bitter local rivals Atletico Madrid, Los Blancos should be relishing a trip to Manchester here. Suffering just a single defeat across any competition since their Super Cup heartbreak last month, the Spanish giants will be looking to lay down a heavyweight Champions League marker here. Signing off their group stage adventure with a routine 3-0 victory away at French outfit Brest, Ancelotti’s men will also be excited by their most recent trip to the Etihad. Sending Man City packing at the quarter-final stage last season following a famous penalties victory on foreign soil, the former AC Milan boss could be smelling a potential opportunity in midweek.
Real Madrid Team News
Both still dealing with respective long-term knee injuries, Real Madrid will be unable to call upon the duo of Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal. Likewise, suffering yet another injury setback, former Bayern Munich defender David Alaba is not expected to feature on Tuesday night.
Once again finding the net against Atletico over the weekend and now notching nine goals in his previous eight appearances across all fronts, Kylian Mbappe will play a leading role here. French international Aurelien Tchouameni could start at the heart of Ancelotti’s defence here.
Key Factors to Consider
- When Manchester City and Real Madrid met at the quarter-final stage last season, Los Blancos clinched a famous penalties victory at the Etihad.
- Man City have recorded just a single clean sheet from any of their previous seven appearances across all competitions.
- Guardiola’s side have failed to record a clean sheet at the Etihad against top-flight opposition since December 4th.
- Real Madrid have suffered just a single defeat across any competition since their Super Cup defeat in the Middle East last month.
- French superstar Kylian Mbappe has recorded nine goals in his previous eight appearances across all competitions.
Conclusion
While Manchester City might have avoided an infamous FA Cup upset over t the weekend, Guardiola’s men will be bracing themselves for a major challenge here. Continuing to show some glaring defensive struggles and crashing out at the quarter-final stage last season following a penalties defeat against Los Blancos, the Spanish icons will be relishing a trip to the Etihad on Tuesday night. Suffering just a single defeat across any competition since their Super Cup heartbreak out in the Middle East last month, Madrid could be smelling the chance to claim a crucial first-leg advantage.
Verdict: Jude Bellingham over 0.5 shots on target
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Luckster
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