Manchester City have a mountain to climb if they are to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League ahead of Tuesday’s last 16 second-leg tie against Real Madrid.
City slipped to a 3-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu last week, and they now have to make a bit of history if they are to progress as Los Blancos have never lost a Champions League tie after taking a three-goal lead in the first leg.
The game will take place at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, March 17 at 8pm. The match will be broadcast in the UK on Amazon Prime Video.
Man City predicted lineup vs Real Madrid
Man City (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Bernardo, Rodri, O’Reilly; Semenyo, Haaland, Foden.
Man City team news vs Real Madrid
City boss Pep Guardiola opted for a surprise team selection in the first leg in Madrid.
Savinho was handed a starting spot ahead of the likes of Phil Foden and Omar Marmoush, while Antoine Semenyo was deployed in midfield and Nico O’Reilly was utilised as a left-back.
Semenyo should be pushed forward into attack alongside Erling Haaland for this clash, with either Foden or Rayan Cherki completing a front three.
Matheus Nunes and Rayan Ait-Nouri could also come back into the starting XI after being benched in Madrid.
Guardiola has since defended his tactics and team selection but the Catalan coach is widely expected to revert to a more conventional line-up ahead of this mammoth task.
The hosts have a couple of injury issues, however, as Josko Gvardiol and Rico Lewis are unavailable.
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Nothing to lose for Guardiola’s men
City’s hopes of reaching the last eight of the Champions League appear slim, but Guardiola is convinced his side can take the fight to Real in Manchester.
No team has ever fought back from three goals down to beat Los Blancos in a Champions League tie – but Real have done it themselves and in the 2021/22 season they overturned a two-goal deficit against City.
Guardiola wants his side to take inspiration from their opponents as they bid to make a bit of history themselves.
“We have to try. What do we have to lose?” he said, via ESPN. “Madrid never came back in history? I don’t know how many — 50 Champions League games, they never came back from 3-0?
City also fell further behind in the Premier League title race at the weekend as they were held to a draw by West Ham.
Guardiola accepts that landing the league crown now looks unlikely but he stressed his players have not downed tools just yet, and highlighted the fact that a domestic cup double remains on the table for his side.
A comeback against Madrid looks a tall order for City, but with home advantage they may at least be able to chip in to the deficit and build up a bit of confidence for the closing stages of the domestic campaign, even if their European aspirations are extinguished.
