Manchester City and Real Madrid live an early assault
The English, of downturn, and the whites cross obliged in the first leg of the Champions Playoff in an Etihad so far inaccessible
MADRID, 10 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Manchester City and Real Madrid face this Tuesday (21.00) in the first leg of the playoff of the Champions League, a duel between the last continental champions that arrives sooner than expected after a first phase below what was expected Of both teams, with the English of downturn and with the whites in their seventh attempt to conquer the Etihad Stadium to return with margin to the return in Chamartín.
The ‘Citizen’ fief hosts a first huge challenge for Manchester City and Real Madrid, a cross that usually occurs in later rounds and closer to the final, and that this time will leave a serious candidate for a serious candidate for a serious candidate for a serious candidate for a serious candidate qualification. And it arrives at a critical moment for both, although the premises are more needy and obliged.
Those of Pep Guardiola, continental champions in 2023, are living a difficult course, in which the first third has been far from the usual level of their teams. Proof of this is his fifth place in the Premier League, 15 points from the Liverpool leader, after adding 7 losses in 24 days. The last, very hard, 5-1 against Arsenal, of which they were replaced, although with excessive suffering, before the Orient Leyton, of the Third Division, 1-2.
The fourth consecutive cross between City and Real Madrid does not arrive at the best time for Carlo Ancelotti, who come from drawing (1-1) against Atlético in the derby, although they continue in the domestic leadership with only one point of advantage. But the casualties in defense in recent months have been a headache for the Italian coach, who has had to make bobbin lace for a February as crucial as crucial.
Without the injured Éder Militao, David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger and Lucas Vázquez, the whites will place, as in recent weeks, an emergency defense. Fede Valverde will reappear in the right lane, while Fran García and Ferland Mendy dispute the left, with the young but remarkable Raúl Asencio and the midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni will be the couple of plants.
These will be in charge of stopping the Eraling Haaland -4 goals in the last 5 games-, Phil Foden, Savinho, Omar Marmoush -signing ‘Citizen’ that has displaced Kevin de Bruyne- and company. And it is that defensive discipline and concentration aim to be the keys to the destination of the party. That has been the Achilles heel of both teams, so the forcefulness in their areas could make a difference -only two goals to zero in 2025-.
Thus, the latest clashes demonstrate it. In the Etihad, those of Ancelotti have returned from Manchester with nine goals against in the last three visits -eight in two games -, although the game of the last course was an example of resilience and solidarity and commitment behind, defending with nails and teeth A draw to advance to semifinals on penalties.
The ‘citizens’ want revenge again in the great challenge of advising the first blow to the current champion, looking for that push and turning point for a season full of ups and downs. And he will try under the shelter of a Talisman Etihad in Europe, with a streak of 34 undefeated games (29v and 5e) -they do not lose since September 2018 -although whites are the team that has eliminated them more times from the Champions ( 3).
Given this, one more year, those of Ancelotti want to break their curse with the fief The first tie after the first phase for the first time since 2019-2020-the City eliminated them.
The whites, with up to five soccer players -Bellingham, Modric, Camavinga, Tchouameni and Endrick- and Ancelotti itself warned, need to reunite with their best version in their fetish competition, still with the subject pending yield before a ‘giant’. In Anfield and against AC Milan at home they fell, and now face the most complicated exam so far.
For this modern Champions classic, Ancelotti must decide whether to give Eduardo Camavinga minutes with Dani Ceballos or choose Luka Modric as a companion of Utrera. While they will entrust the undoubted talent of the ‘fantastic four’, indisputable to be their greatest asset. In the City, as on other occasions, Guardiola could opt for stones in the double pivot, while one of its greatest dangers will be the extremes with Savinho, Foden and Marmoush.
Data Sheet.
–Posibles alignments:
Manchester City: Ederson; Nunes, Khusanov, Akanji, Gardiol; Kovacic, Stones, Bernardo Silva; Marmoush, Haaland Y Foden.
Real Madrid: courtois; Valverde, tchouameni, sencio, Fran Garcia; Ceballos, Cammavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, mbappé y viicus.
-ARBITRER: CLÉMENT TURPIN (FRA).
–ESTADIO: Etihad Stadium.
“ Hora: 21.00/Movistar+ Champions League.