Possible Lineups for Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
Real Madrid and Manchester City are set for a do-or-die battle tonight in the UEFA Champions League. With the first leg ending 3-2 in favor of Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad has a slight edge, but the tie is far from over.
Both managers, Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, acknowledge the difficulty of the match.
- Ancelotti: “It will be a tough and entertaining match. We’ve prepared well and want to recover key players. We’ll try to play the same way as last week, knowing that everything is decided in 90 minutes.”
- Guardiola: “We need a perfect game. The Bernabéu is a tough place, and we must give everything to turn the tie around. It’s never easy here.”
With both teams suffering from injuries, squad depth will be crucial in this high-stakes encounter.
Recovered Players & Key Decisions
Real Madrid gets a boost with David Alaba, Lucas Vázquez, and Antonio Rüdiger returning, though only Rüdiger is expected to start.
- Defense: Rüdiger likely partners Raúl Asencio at center-back. Aurélien Tchouaméni returns to his usual midfield role.
- Right-back uncertainty: Fede Valverde might play there if fully fit, but Asencio is another option.
For Manchester City, Guardiola is relieved to have Nico González available, a key signing from the last transfer window.
Probable Lineups
Real Madrid:
🧤 Courtois
🛡️ Valverde, Rüdiger, Asencio/Camavinga, Mendy
🛡️ Tchouaméni, Ceballos
🎩 Bellingham
⚡ Rodrygo, Vinicius, Mbappé
Manchester City:
🧤 Ederson
🛡️ Lewis, Ruben Dias, Ake, Gvardiol
🛡️ Stones, Nico González
⚡ Savinho, Foden, Marmoush
🎯 Haaland
With history evenly split (4 wins each and 5 draws in 13 Champions League encounters), this game is unpredictable. Who will advance?
