Manchester City vs Real Madrid
Competition: Champions League 2015-16 (Semi Finals)
Date: Tuesday, 26 April 2016 - Time: 18:45 GMT
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, United Kingdom
Competition: Champions League 2015-16 (Semi Finals)
Date: Tuesday, 26 April 2016 - Time: 18:45 GMT
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, United Kingdom
Referee: C. Çakιr
Man City team hammered Stoke City 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium with a
minimum of fuss at the weekend. They have hit good form just at the
right time and are unbeaten in their last seven in all competitions. In UCL, the Citizens beat PSG in the quarter-finals to move
into the last four of Europe's premier competition for the first time.
They have only won one of their four home games in the knockout stages,
against PSG (D1 L2). Their only home defeat this season came against
Juventus in the opening day of the tournament.
Yaya Toure picked up a thigh injury against Stoke City and will face a fitness test while captain Vincent Kompany is still making his way back from injury to full fitness. Bacary Sagna has spent most of the season as Manuel Pellegrini's first choice right-back, but he has missed their last two matches because of injury and Pablo Zabaleto is expected to replace the Frenchman. Up front Sergio Aguero will lead the line, while David Silva, Jesus Navas and Kevin De Bruyn will form the offensive midfield trio.
Yaya Toure picked up a thigh injury against Stoke City and will face a fitness test while captain Vincent Kompany is still making his way back from injury to full fitness. Bacary Sagna has spent most of the season as Manuel Pellegrini's first choice right-back, but he has missed their last two matches because of injury and Pablo Zabaleto is expected to replace the Frenchman. Up front Sergio Aguero will lead the line, while David Silva, Jesus Navas and Kevin De Bruyn will form the offensive midfield trio.
Real Madrid team came from 2 goals down and were 2-3 winners away at Rayo
Vallecano in La Liga last weekend and, in addition to moving them to
within a point of Barcelona at the top of the league table, that result
marked the occasion of Real’s fifth win in a row and their 11th victory
in their last 12 matches in all competitions. Their only slip came when
the Galacticos were beaten 2-0 away in the first leg of their
quarter-final tie against Vfl Wolfsburg. They advance to the semifinals
thanks to a second-leg hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Zidane has slight concerns over Dani Carvajal and Benzema, as
well as Ronaldo who missed at the weekend. Brazilian midfieldere
Casemiro also missed the win over Rayo through suspension but will start
at the Etihad. Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo look sure to start in
attack, while Lucas Vazquez and Jese Rodriguez are in contention for the
remaining spot should Benzema fail to recover in time.
Man City and Real Madrid's only previous competitive encounter was in the 2012-13 Champions League group stages. The Merengues won 3-2 at the Bernabeu before a 1-1 draw at Etihad Stadium.
Man City and Real Madrid's only previous competitive encounter was in the 2012-13 Champions League group stages. The Merengues won 3-2 at the Bernabeu before a 1-1 draw at Etihad Stadium.
Probable lineups:
Manchester City: Hart – Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Clichy – Fernando, Fernandinho – J.Navas, de Bruyne, Silva – Aguero.
Real Madrid: Navas – Danilo, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo – T.Kroos, Casemiro, Modri? – Ronaldo, Bale, Isco.
