The encounters between Real Madrid and Manchester City in recent seasons have been nothing short of glorious. In terms of both quality and spectacle, neither of the two teams has ever disappointed. However, this time around, Real Madrid will look to take some pending revenge.
After crashing out of the Champions League last season at the hands of the Citizens, Los Blancos will look to make sure that they are the final victors this time around. However, it would be very unlike Manchester City to make things easy for Real Madrid at any stage of the game.
Pep Guardiola’s Citizens await the Merengues at the Etihad Stadium, and while this would certainly be an intimidating task for any club, Real Madrid are a side forged and developed in the pressures of the Champions League itself.
Despite the suspension to Aurelien Tchouameni, Carlo Ancelotti’s side will have the ever-reliable presence of many veterans of the competition such as Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, as well as the immense quality of Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo to help overcome Manchester City.
Even in terms of form, Real Madrid have hardly let their spirits come down in recent times. Since the spectacular 3-3 first-leg draw against City at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid have only faced Mallorca in La Liga and ended that game as 1-0 victors too.
Manchester City, on the other end of things, have faced only Luton Town as well as in the English Premier League. The Citizens demolished their opponents with an emphatic 5-1 scoreline, giving a clear reminder that they possess the quality to give Real Madrid a very difficult time at their own home ground.
For Real Madrid to return from England as the semi-finalists of the Champions League, Los Blancos have to make sure that they do everything right. Whether that be getting an early goal, or shutting out the Citizens, a lot of hope lies on Ancelotti’s men doing everything by the book and as a perfect replication of it.
