Real Madrid is set to host Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu later tonight. Los Blancos had drawn the previous leg of the Champions League semi-final fixture against a formidable Manchester City side at the Etihad last week and therefore are slight favourites to get through to the final of the coveted European championship.
Manuel Pellegrini's men have had a forgetful 2015-16 season barring their Carling Cup campaign and the Citizens will definitely want to add another feather in their cap as they currently lie at the number four position on the 2015-16 Barclays Premier League table.
Moreover, Manchester City's 62-year-old Chilean manager will be desperately hoping to clinch the UEFA Champions League before he leaves the club this summer to pave the way for Pep Guardiola.
Team News
Real Madrid: Los Blancos manager, Zinedine Zidane should feel relieved for the time being as Real Madrid star forward, Cristiano Ronaldo has resumed training after his hamstring injury forced the Portugal international to stay out of the Champions League semi-final encounter at the Etihad last week. Ronaldo is highly likely to start against Manchester City later tonight.
However, Karim Benzema is doubtful to feature in today's match whereas, the 24-year-old Brazilian defensive midfielder, Casemiro could miss the match due to injury as well.
Manchester City: Manuel Pellegrini had rested some key Manchester City footballers like Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bryune, and Vincent Kompany during their league match against Southampton last week and that implies that the 62-year-old Chilean is taking the Manchester-based side's Champions League campaign seriously.
Having said that, Pellegrini is likely to miss the services of Yaya Toure, whereas, David Silva has been ruled out of tonight's high voltage UEFA Champions League encounter.
Probable Line-ups
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Isco, Kroos; Ronaldo, Bale, Jese Rodriguez.
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho; Navas, Sterling, De Bruyne; Aguero.
Form Guide
Real Madrid: Despite a lot of injuries, the Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane has shown tremendous managerial skills to uplift a dejected Los Blancos side. The Santiago Bernabeu-based club which was, once, nowhere near the title-race has closed the gap with the league leaders, Barcelona to just a single point. Zinedine Zidane's men are in sublime form as they have gone on to win 10 domestic league matches on the trot.
Real Madrid last 5 games (W-W-W-D-W): Last match: Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid.
Manchester City: As stated earlier, Manuel Pellegrini’s men have had a forgetful 2015-16 season. The Citizens, currently, occupy the number four spot on the Barclays Premier League table with Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City already having clinched the English Premiership with two more league matches to go.
Moreover, Manchester City were subjected to a 4-2 thrashing at the hands of Southampton last weekend having rested three of its key footballers.
Manchester City last 5 games (W-D-W-D-L): Last match: Southampton 4-2 Manchester City.
What the managers have to say
Real Madrid: Zinedine Zidane has spoken ahead of the Champions League semi-final fixture against Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Frenchman told the press, "We have done our job (against Real Sociedad), which is the most important thing. What the others do we'll wait and see, but it doesn't matter. The most important thing was to win today ourselves. If we hadn't the league would have been a lot more difficult.”
“Now we need to think about Wednesday. In my head, I hope and think that Cristiano and Karim will be fit and we will all be together," he added.
Manchester City: Manuel Pellegrini, desperately, wants to get his hands on the Champions League before he is set to leave the Etihad, later this summer. Here is what he had to say during the pre-match press conference, “I was shocked that Madrid was so far back (in the first leg). In the first half especially, the team that was trying to recover the ball further up and was playing with more intention was ours.”
“Perhaps at some point, they looked superior and perhaps they were guessing, and they were right, that they should play the first half by trying not to lose. We didn't put defensive players in there nor did we wait for them at our goal to try to avoid them scoring on us. On the contrary, we went out to set the pace with our creative players who, unfortunately, weren't very creative that day,” the Chilean added.
Key Stats
1) Real Madrid have an exceptional 100% win record at the Santiago Bernabeu in the 2015-16 season of the UEFA Champions League. Moreover, they haven’t even conceded a goal at home.
2) Manchester City have registered three victories in the five away matches played in Europe this season.
3) Last time that these two teams had met in Santiago Bernabeu back in 2012, the match ended 3-2 in the favour of Real Madrid.
Key Battle
Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Vincent Kompany: Cristiano Ronaldo, undoubtedly, is one of the most prolific forwards the world has ever seen. The Portuguese international has missed the previous away encounter against Manchester City and will be, definitely, looking forward to make an impact against the Citizens at the Santiago Bernabeu, later today.
The 31-year-old Los Blancos star forward has scored a total of 16 goals in this year's UEFA Champions League until now and will, definitely, look forward to add a few more to his tally.
However, one thing is for sure. The Manchester City skipper, Vincent Kompany wouldn’t make things easy for Cristiano Ronaldo in front of goal. The Manchester City centre-back was rested in the Citizen’s previous league match against the Saints and will, definitely, look forward to lead by example and tilt the match in favour of the English club.
Prediction
Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu are a tough side to beat and the Citizens know it well. Moreover, the inclusion of Cristiano Ronaldo in the side means that the Spanish side have a definite edge over the English side.
Real Madrid 2-0 Manchester City
