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As the UEFA Champions League resumes after the long Covid break, Manchester City will host Real Madrid at the Etihad in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie. At the Santiago Bernabeu, Manchester City came back from behind and won the game thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kevin de Bruyne.
There were several standout performers on the night and the first leg was packed with exciting football. It was Real Madrid who had gone ahead after Isco slotted the ball home from a Vinicius cut-back. However, the Cityzens turned up the heat and got on the scoresheet when Gabriel Jesus nodded a KDB cross past Courtois.
City then went on to take the lead and added another valuable away goal to their kitty after Raheem Sterling was brought down inside the area by a reckless Carvajal. Kevin De Bruyne converted from the spot to make it 2-1.
Real Madrid are down by a goal already and will be without Sergio Ramos who will miss out after getting red-carded in the previous game. The Real Madrid players have to be at their best if they're to beat Pep Guardiola's City at Etihad.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid: 5 players to watch out for
#5 Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez was a livewire for Manchester City in the first-leg. The Algerian was at his best, slaloming past defenders and getting into dangerous areas. He made sure the Real Madrid defence wasn't afforded any sense of comfort or security by constantly constantly putting them up to test.
Though Mahrez couldn't get on the scoresheet, he combined with the rest of City's attackers with aplomb and was easily one of their best players on the night. With Sergio Ramos now unavailable and Mahrez in top form, Real Madrid will need to get numbers in behind despite having to try to reduce a deficit.
#4 Vinicius Jr.
Vinicius Jr. once again justified the hype surrounding him in the first-leg and he was the standout performer for the Blancos by a mile. Vinicius was excellent driving forward and did well in keeping the City defence occupied and gave Kyle Walker a great deal to think about through the length of the game.
It was he who set up Isco for the opening goal of the game. However, with Eden Hazard fully fit, Vinicius might start this one on the bench. But he is almost certain to get involved at some point and his pace and technique could prove to be the difference against tired City legs.
Also read: 5 most unexpected winners of the UEFA Champions League
#3 Gabriel Jesus
Gabriel Jesus worked his legs to the bone in the first-leg playing almost as a full-back. He tracked back with great efficiency and hardly ever failed to provide himself as an option whenever City attacked.
Jesus scored Manchester City's first goal of the night, popping up behind Sergio Ramos and heading the ball past the clutches of Thibaut Courtois from close range. He also got Sergio Ramos sent off in the dying embers of the game.
The Brazilian has been in great form after the restart and is definitely going to be ready to put on a show at Etihad.
#2 Casemiro
Casemiro has done an excellent job at defensive midfield for Real Madrid this season, and his form after the restart has been encouraging. However, on Friday night, he will have to double down in the absence of Sergio Ramos and provide some steel in front of the Madrid defence that would be led by Miltao and Varane.
Manchester City's free-flowing game is always going to be a threat and Casemiro will need to be at his best if they're to even have a chance of winning at the Etihad. The Brazilian will be in charge of marshalling the midfield and more often than not, these games are won there.
#1 Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne is one of the best midfielders in the world right now and that has been the case for a few years. The Belgian had a splendid game at the Santiago Bernabeu, setting up City's first and then scoring from the spot to secure their second.
De Bruyne was excellent in Pep Guardiola's midfield, his tenacity proving to be a virtue that Madrid found tough to negotiate with. He was a class apart as Manchester City's captain in the first leg.
Kevin De Bruyne is expected to populate the midfield for City alongside Gundogan and Rodri and on paper, they look more than capable of walking away with another win against the La Liga champions.
