Man City and Real Madrid are set to lock horns in the second leg of their semi-final tie at the Etihad Stadium, in what many have classifed as the game of the season. With the first leg ending in a thrilling 1-1 draw, the stage is set for an exhilarating encounter as both teams vie for a place in the final of this season's UEFA Champions League.
City enter the match with a slight advantage, having salvaged a draw in Madrid and enjoying a formidable home record, while Real Madrid aims to draw upon their rich Champions League pedigree and knack for comebacks. In last week's affair, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne delivered a stunning long-range strike to equalize after Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. had put the Spanish side ahead with an equally brilliant curling effort.
Ahead of the mid-week's encounter, City boast both home advantage and scorching form. Unbeaten since early February, they have been in red-hot form and are eager to capture their first-ever Champions League title. With an impressive unbeaten run at the Etihad, where they have scored a remarkable 49 goals while conceding only 7 in 14 matches, the confidence of Pep Guardiola's men is sky-high.
Over the weekend, the Citizens added to their bid to win a treble this season, cruising past Premier League relegation-battlers Everton. A double from Ilkay Gundogan and Erling Haaland's 36th goal of the campaign was enough to guide the defending champions to a 3-0 win as they reestablished a three-point lead over title contenders Arsenal.
On the other hand, defending champions Real Madrid are determined to add to their illustrious trophy cabinet and will aim to leverage their past Champions League exploits to achieve this. While their league campaign may have faltered, losing out to Barcelona, Carlo Ancelotti's men have already clinched the Copa del Rey and are keen to conquer Europe once again.
Indeed, the disappointment of losing the league title will serve as motivation for Madrid, fueling their desire to overturn the first-leg result and secure a stunning win at the Etihad. Led by talisman Karim Benzema and with attacking talent like Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid possess enough firepower to challenge City's sturdy defense. Nevertheless, the outcome of this clash will depend on how well Los Blancos' potent attacking force can break through City's solid defensive line and exploit any vulnerabilities, especially as they will be playing at the Etihad.
The Meregues will go into Wednesday's clash with Man City on the back of a 1-0 win over Getafe. The result, which extended their unbetane run to three in all competitions, was enough to launch them into second place on the La Liga table following Atletico Madrid's shock defeat to Elche.
On the subject of the Champions League, Real Madrid's pedigree is second to none. With an enviable specialty in comebacks and unlikely victories, they remain a dangerous opponent and City will be weary of the threat they are capable of posing. However, the fact that they have never won on the Citizens' turf in four previous trips to the venue, presents an interesting dynamic, and one that the Spanish giants will be eager to change.
Key stats: Man City vs Real Madrid
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Real Madrid and Man City have both won four games each in their 11 previous meetings.
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Man City have lost only one of their last five UEFA Champions League fixtures against Real Madrid.
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Real Madrid have not won any of their last four away matches against Manchester City.
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Real Madrid emerged victorious in their last two away knockout games in the competition and will aim for a similar outcome.
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Man City has a remarkable 25-match unbeaten streak at home in the UEFA Champions League, with their last defeat occurring in 2018.
Team news: Man City vs Real Madrid
As the second leg approaches, Pep Guardiola's main worry for Manchester City revolves around Nathan Ake's fitness. The defender has been dealing with a hamstring injury sustained during a match against Leeds. Despite showing signs of improvement, Ake's availability remains uncertain.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, has a solitary injury concern with Eduardo Camavinga, but manager Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic about the Frenchman's recovery before the crucial clash. The return of Ferland Mendy is a significant boost for Real Madrid, as he featured in their recent league match, and Eder Militao is also expected to make his way back into the starting lineup.
Broadcast information: Man City vs Real Madrid
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
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