After having faced one another in the knock-out stages of the UEFA Champions League for the last two years, Real Madrid and Manchester City are set to lock horns once again in the quarter-finals of this UCL edition this Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid overcame the Citizens in their miraculous Champions League run in 2021-22, but last year, it was Pep Guardiola’s side that got the better of the Merengues and went on to win the title.
Los Blancos have a host of reasons to be more optimistic about their chances of overcoming this immense barrier and advancing to the semi-finals. They are currently on a 13-match unbeaten run in all competitions and knocked out RB Leipzig in the previous round of the UEFA Champions League.
Carlo Ancelotti has recovered one of his key defenders, Eder Militao ahead of this match, but the Brazilian might not be able to participate in such a high-intensity game so soon after coming back from a career-impacting injury. Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba continue with their recovery processes, and will not be available for this game.
The Italian will once again be counting on Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo Goes, and Vinicius Junior to weave their magic and get some goals in their home fixture. The Citizens will need no introductions for the Brazilian wingers, as they have inflicted significant pain on them in the last few years.
Similarly, Bellingham, who has scored four goals and given four assists in six UCL appearances this season, is also well known to the English side as they were one of the contenders for his signature last summer.
Overall, Real Madrid will be quite confident of playing against one of the best teams in Europe this season, especially at their own fortress where they have gone 26 matches without tasting defeat.
But Pep Guardiola will bring an equally good Manchester City team to the Spanish capital, one which has also gone the last 25 games without a defeat in all competitions. Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva will be troublesome players for the Merengues to deal with, while Erling Haaland will also be looking to get on the scoresheet.
Some key Manchester City players like Josko Gvardiol, Kyle Walker, and Nathan Ake are doubtful for this match. Still, Guardiola has enough options on his bench not to miss these players too much.
Thus, with two of the best squads in Europe, being led by two of the most decorated and celebrated tacticians, this is going to be a clash of titans in every sense of the word. Hopefully, Real Madrid will be able to get the better of the English side this time around and show that they are the team to beat in the Champions League.
