We have reached the Champions League semi-final, second leg stage and it is all to play for as Real Madrid host Manchester City. The game will be played at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu and the tie is poised nicely at 4-3 in favour of the visitors following a fantastic first leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Real Madrid come into the match having recorded a comfortable 4-0 home win over Espanyol on the weekend. Carlo Ancelotti was afforded the opportunity to rotate his team with the title as good as won prior to kick off but Real Madrid still produced a good performance. They were 2-0 up at the interval and added 2 more goals in the second half.
🔵🧠One thing in mind: #UCL pic.twitter.com/FpKVFGnquD— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 2, 2022
🔵🧠One thing in mind: #UCL pic.twitter.com/FpKVFGnquD
That result means Real Madrid have won 3 of their 4 most recent games in all competitions. There have been wins over Sevilla and Osasuna away in La Liga but the only fixture they failed to win was the first leg of this Champions League tie in Manchester.
From in the Champions League shows Real Madrid have won only 2 of their last 5 matches. The wins have come at home against Paris Saint-Germain and away to Chelsea.
Home form in the competition shows Real Madrid have won 7 of their last 10 Champions League games on home soil. They have been scoring plenty of goals but struggling to keep clean sheets, with both teams scoring in 7 of Real Madrid’s last 8 home Champions League matches.
Manchester City make the trip to the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on the back of a good 4-0 win at Leeds United in the English Premier League. With Liverpool continuing to win, the pressure was on for Manchester City but they also rested some players yet still delivered the goods.
That victory means Manchester City have won each of their last 4 games in all competitions. In addition to the win at the weekend, there have been wins over Brighton and Watford at home in the Premier League plus the victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of this tie.
Trends show Manchester City are undefeated in each of their last 5 Champions League fixtures. However, they have recorded only 2 wins from their last 5 on the road in the competition. There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Manchester City’s last 4 away Champions League games.
Team news and Real Madrid are without the injured quartet of Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard, David Alaba, and Luka Jović. They also have doubts over the fitness of Nacho Fernandez but Casemiro should be fit to start.
Manchester City have some concerns in defence, with John Stones and Kyle Walker both on the treatment table. Nathan Aké could also miss out having picked up an injury on the weekend.
If the first leg is anything to go by, this is going to be some occasion. We are sure to see goals, at both ends of the pitch and over 2.5 goals in total.
Manchester City did look the better team in the first leg and they know, if they avoid defeat, they will be in the final. This game could end level, with Manchester City progressing on aggregate.