{"id":1374291,"date":"2026-03-16T18:37:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T18:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1374291"},"modified":"2026-03-17T09:59:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T09:59:15","slug":"man-city-team-news-predicted-xi-real-madrid","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/man-city-team-news-predicted-xi-real-madrid\/","title":{"rendered":"Man City team news vs Real Madrid and predicted lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Manchester City<\/a> have a mountain to climb if they are to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League<\/a> ahead of Tuesday\u2019s last 16 second-leg tie against Real Madrid<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Man City predicted lineup vs Real Madrid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Man City (4-3-3)<\/strong>: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Bernardo, Rodri, O\u2019Reilly; Semenyo, Haaland, Foden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Man City team news vs Real Madrid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

City boss Pep Guardiola opted for a surprise team selection in the first leg in Madrid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019Reilly was utilised as a left-back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Semenyo should be pushed forward into attack alongside Erling Haaland for this clash, with either Foden or Rayan Cherki completing a front three. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matheus Nunes and Rayan Ait-Nouri could also come back into the starting XI after being benched in Madrid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hosts have a couple of injury issues, however, as Josko Gvardiol and Rico Lewis are unavailable.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Nothing to lose for Guardiola’s men<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    City\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Guardiola wants his side to take inspiration from their opponents as they bid to make a bit of history themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cWe have to try. What do we have to lose?\u201d 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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    City also fell further behind in the Premier League title race at the weekend as they were held to a draw by West Ham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    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.<\/p>\n\n\n

    Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n