Following the 1-1 draw at the Bernabéu last week, Manchester City and Real Madrid are vying for a spot in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final. Manchester City is on the brink of clinching the Premier League title after their convincing 3-0 victory over Everton on Sunday.
Under Pep Guardiola’s guidance, they have remained unbeaten since early February, with 18 wins and 4 draws. Guardiola has encouraged his team to stay composed and replicate their performance from the past four or five years.
Manchester City could easily continue their impressive run since February, considering that all four of their draws occurred away from home. They have emerged victorious in their last 14 games at their home ground, the Etihad Stadium.
Additionally, they have not lost a UCL match at the Etihad Stadium since September 2018, with 22 wins and 2 draws. Notably, they have triumphed over Spanish teams in four of those victories, including a thrilling 4-3 win in the first leg of last season’s semi-final.
Real Madrid managed to withstand Manchester City’s attacks in the previous match, and VinÃcius Júnior’s exceptional goal helped them salvage a draw. They then secured a 1-0 victory against Getafe with a rotated squad, reclaiming the second spot in La Liga.
With Ferland Mendy back in action, manager Carlo Ancelotti anticipates having a fully available squad. He has already determined the starting lineup for his record 191st UCL game as a manager.
Ancelotti aims to extend his streak of five consecutive UCL victories against British opponents on foreign soil.
However, it is worth noting that this streak began after Real Madrid suffered a 4-3 defeat against Manchester City last season. While a thrilling encounter would be desired by neutral fans, Real Madrid is eager to secure their first-ever away victory against Manchester City. Any win would suffice for the 14-time UCL champions.
Key players to keep an eye on include Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, who has scored in three of the last five head-to-head matches, including the opening goal in their previous encounter.
On the other side, Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema has outperformed De Bruyne by finding the net in three of the last four meetings, including two goals in last season’s memorable match at the same venue.
Manchester City is on a hot streak, having won all eight European ties in which they drew the first leg away from home.