An epic UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg takes place at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday as Manchester City host Real Madrid with the score locked at 3-3.
[ LIVE: Manchester City vs Real Madrid stats on FotMob.com ]
The first leg in Madrid last week was a sensational encounter as two teams with contrasting styles, and plenty of recent history, went toe-to-toe in an exhilarating draw. City scored three superb goals but Pep Guardiola’s side lacked the usual control they have in games as they had to work extremely hard not to concede more on the counter. They do have some key defensive players back for this game which is a huge boost in their hopes of winning back-to-back trebles.
Pep Guardiola was asked before this game if he feared Real Madrid, the record 14-time Champions of Europe: “No I don’t fear them. But I respect them a lot. I have faced them many times. I’m not going to talk great things about them, and give you my opinion. I respect Real Madrid. And if I say I’m scared of them, I would be false.”
Real Madrid know they can cause City plenty of problems on the break as Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo are fired up and ready to grab whatever opportunity they get. Jude Bellingham will be hoping to grab this game by the scruff of the neck in midfield, while the experience of Antonio Rudiger will be key as he tries to keep Erling Haaland quiet for a second-straight game. Carlo Ancelotti knows exactly how to set his Real side up to frustrate City and be dangerous on the break.
How to watch Manchester City vs Real Madrid live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET, Wednesday (April 17)
How to watch: Paramount+ and TUDN USA
Manchester City vs Real Madrid live updates — By Nick Mendola
Manchester City vs Real Madrid live score: 1-1 (4-4 aggregate)
Goalscorers: Rodrygo (13′), De Bruyne (75′)
Kevin De Bruyne goal! Manchester City 1-1 (4-4 aggregate) Real Madrid
Jeremy Doku has been busy on the left wing since entering, and now he’s helped produce an equalizer.
Doku dances into the 18 and rips a shot that’s blocked by a prone Antonio Rudiger.
De Bruyne is right there to plant the rebound above Lunin’s right shoulder from close range.
Man City sub
Jeremy Doku replaces Jack Grealish, who was on yellow.
72nd minute.
Real off-kilter
Both Toni Kroos and Edouardo Camavinga have passed the ball out of bounds in the first four minutes of the second half as City has started as it ended —- in Real’s final third.
Now Lunin collects off a speculative Foden attempt off a corner kick.
Halftime — Manchester City 0-1 (3-4 aggregate) Real Madrid
It looks how you’d think a 12th-minute goal for the visitors would make it look.
City has 63% possession and 11 of the game’s 16 shots, putting three on Andriy Lunin.
Lunin has been very good in Madrid’s goal, while City’s had lively play from Haaland, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, and Akanji. Not starring or clinical play, but lively.
Real is pleased to keep 11 behind the ball. Please score for our eyeballs, City.
City keep coming
Haaland plays Grealish down the left. The England star turns on the jets and sees his left-footed shot partially blocked by a lunging Rudiger.
Still 1-0 Madrid, 37′.
City corner kick
Kevin De Bruyne tears into a shot and Andriy Lunin flies to parry it out for a corner kick.
De Bruyne presides over the effort from the right. Dani Carvajal is playing through injury, and is wobbling back to cover.
The chance ends with a lofted ball to the back post, and Haaland can’t get enough on his header to beat Lunin.
Painfully close to equalizer
Haaland nods off the cross bar and it falls to Silva, who can’t sort his legs from extremely close range and sees the ball off his knee and wide.
Haaland heads over
Jack Grealish gets on the end of a long diagonal from Bernardo Silva to the corner.
Silva cuts a cross from the left and Erling Haaland rises… only to nod it just over the goal.
Madrid strike first — Man City 0-1 Real Madrid (0-4 agg.)
Vinicius beats Ruben Dias to the end line and cuts back through the box.
Kyle Walker can’t stop the ball from getting to Rodrygo, whose first shot is blocked by Ederson.
He buries the rebound. 1-0.
Here we go!
Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne start together in a City group of attacking talent good enough to get past anyone. Toni Kroos and Antonio Rudiger plan to make it difficult.
Manchester City lineup
Ederson, Walker,. Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Haaland
Real Madrid lineup
Lunin, Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy, Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr.
Manchester City focus, team news
There are no injury issues now for City as the duo of Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake are back in defense, while Ederson has also returned in goal. That significantly boosts their defensive solidity and Guardiola also had the luxury of resting the likes of Foden, Stones, Rodri, Grealish and Bernardo Silva for the win against Luton on Saturday. Kevin de Bruyne should start alongside Foden in attacking midfield, while it will be intriguing to see if Grealish and Silva start out wide or if Jeremy Doku starts after his superb performance at the weekend. Josko Gvardiol has played well at left back but he could slot over to center back and Ake could come in.
QUESTIONABLE: John Stones (uncomfortable)
Real Madrid focus, team news
Eder Militao will start at center back with Tchouameni out through suspension but that is the only change Real are likely to make from the first leg. Luka Modric and former Man City youth product Brahim Diaz will play their part off the bench and Real’s aim is to stay level in the game until the final 30 minutes and then go for it. They seem ready for extra time and penalty kicks and the Champions League masters know how to get it done over two legs.
OUT: Aurelien Tchouameni (suspension), Thibaut Courtois (knee) David Alaba (knee)
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