Real Madrid and Manchester City will battle for a place in quarter-finals of the Champions League, when the pair meet in the first-leg of round 16 fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid until their last two games had been on some hot form since losing to Paris Saint-Germain on matchday one of the Champions League. Zinedine Zidane’s team have gained just one point in their last two La Liga games, losing the latest one to Levante.
Manchester City on the other hand, are trying to finish the season on a high having seen Liverpool almost wrap up the Premier League title. The Citizens defeated Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Saturday and that should be a boost for them.
After being knocked out by Ajax last season, Zidane will be cautious of the threat posed by this City team and the presence of Ferland Mendy and Courtois’ confident should be a motivation at the back.
Man City will also try to attack the 13 time winners of the competition from the start and will need to take their chances if they are to take anything back to England.
WHERE AND WHEN?
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Date: Wednesday, February 26
Time: 8PM
The last time both teams met, Los Blancos edged the Citizens by a goal to nil to sail through, going on to win the competition in the 2015/2016 season.
Manchester City have never won against Real Madrid – they have faces each other four times, each occasion in the Champions League, with City losing their two away games at Santiago Bernabeu and drawing the other two at the Etihad.
Real Madrid have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League knockout ties against English opposition: 5-0 on aggregate vs Tottenham (2010/2011 quarter-finals), 3-2 vs Manchester United (2012/2013 round of 16), 1-0 vs Manchester City (2015/16 semi-finals), 3-1 vs Liverpool (2017/18 final).
Real Madrid have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League for the 23rd consecutive season, the longest run in the history of the tournament and a streak that began in 19997/98.
Real Madrid have scored in each of their last 22 home games in the knockout stages of the Champions League; the last man to stop them from scoring were Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2010/11 semi-finals (0-2). However, Real Madrid have failed to win their last three knockout matches at the Santiago Bernabeu (D1 L2); they have never gone four matches in row without a victory.
Manchester City are in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the seventh straight season, reaching at least the quarter-finals in three of the last four campaigns.
TEAM NEWS
Summer signing Eden Hazard is set for lengthy weeks on the sidelines after coming off injured in Los Blancos’ 0-1 loss to Levante in their last La Liga game. Rodrygo is also set to miss the game having been dismissed in Real Madrid’s Castilla’s match on Sunday, while Marco Asensio and Mariano Diaz are also doubts for the clash.
Manchester City have Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane to worry about as both players are set to miss the first leg of the fixture. Guardiola will be wary of Benjamin Mendy who is one yellow card away from suspension.
POSSIBLE LINEUPS
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Modric, Valverde, Casemiro, Kroos, Isco; Benzema.
Man City: Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Rodri, D. Silva; Mahrez, Aguero, Bernardo.
PREDICTION
Real Madrid 2-1 Manchester City.
