The second leg of the Champions League knockout playoffs concludes on Wednesday night, headlined by one of the continent’s great cross-nation rivalries of recent years in Real Madrid vs. Manchester City. It is the hosts who hold the advantage going into the second leg, two late goals at the Etihad Stadium securing a 3-2 lead for Madrid to take back to the Santiago Bernabeu.
City head to the Bernabeu with fears over Erling Haaland’s early exit from the win over Newcastle United. Guillem Balague reported on CBS Sprots Golazo Network the striker “felt pain” Wednesday morning making it possible that he “would not even play, even if he was on the bench,” putting his participation in doubt, pending a late fitness test.
Here’s what we’re expecting to see from both sides at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid confirmed XI
Antonio Rudiger is back in the Real Madrid side having shaken off the hamstring injury that kept him out of the first leg, meaning Aurelien Tchouameni moves up into midfield and Eduardo Camavinga, so impressive at the Etihad Stadium, drops out of the side. That is the sole change Carlo Ancelotti has made from Tuesday’s XI last week. Lucas Vazquez and David Alaba have returned to the squad after failing to make the trip to London.
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Vazquez remains on the bench as Federico Valverde shook off the “discomfort” he felt following Saturday’s draw at Osasuna. He will captain the side from right back while youngster Raul Asencio remains in the backline. Unsurprisingly, further up field Ancelotti felt there was no logic to mess with a team that authoritatively controlled the battle at the Etihad and names the same front four that.
One matter that will be playing in Ancelotti’s mind is the six players who could miss the round of 16 first leg tie against Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen if they are booked. Those are: Rudiger, Tchouameni, Endrick, Luka Modric, Jude Bellingham and Camavinga.
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Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Rodrygo, Camavinga, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
Subs: Lunin, Mestre, Alaba, Camavinga, Modric, Guler, Endrick, Vazquez, Vallejo, Fran Garcia, Brahim
Manchester City
For 87 minutes it seemed nothing was going wrong as Manchester City secured three major points in their battle to be back in next season’s Champions League, crushing Newcastle United 4-0 at the Etihad. Then Haaland landed awkwardly and immediately made his exit from proceedings, nursing what looked to be pain in his knee. Losing their top striker would surely only hamper the “one percent” chance Pep Guardiola gave his side of advancing past Real Madrid.
Balague said on Wednesday that Haaland “felt pain, and told the manager that” and that the striker “may not even play, even if he’s on the bench” but would still be the subject of a late fitness test to ascertain whether he could in fact start. Jack Grealish, whose brilliant pass helped provide Haaland with his first goal in the first leg, is also a doubt. The England international limped out of that match with injury as did Manuel Akanji, sidelined for up to 10 weeks after undergoing surgery on his adductor.
Nathan Ake is also a doubt with muscular issues, though even if he is also missing City should just about have the bodies to cope in defense. Further forward the January window has brought options for Guardiola. Neither Nico Gonzalez nor Omar Marmoush started the first leg, it is hard to believe they will also be missing from the XI in the Bernabeu. The former earned himself the title “mini-Rodri” from Guardiola, the latter scored a first half hat-trick that spoke to a burgeoning partnership with Haaland and an ability to pick up the scoring slack when the Norwegian is not at his best.
Possible Manchester City XI: Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Gonzalez, Silva; Savinho, De Bruyne, Marmoush; Haaland