Real Madrid are playing Manchester City in the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League Quarter Final. The first leg will be played at the Santiago Bernabéu. Let’s take a quick match preview of the meeting between the two sides.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City UCL QF Match Preview
The reigning La Liga Champions has locked horns with the current European Champions a total of 10 times. Of that, Real Madrid won 3 times and Manchester City 4 times. That leaves the two sides with a draw of 3 times.
It is usually an intense game when the two sides play out especially in a UEFA competition knock out game. This 2023-24 season, they will once again play for a spot in the semi-final and here is a quick preview of the match.
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When: 10 April 12:30 am IST
Where: Santiago Bernabéu
Team News – Real Madrid & Manchester City
Real Madrid managed a convincing 2-0 win against Athletic Club in their last outing on 31 March 2024. Their latest form is WWWDDW from all competitions.
On the other hand, Manchester City played out a 0-0 draw against Arsenal in their latest outing on 31 March 2024. Their current form is DWDWWW.
Comparing their current form, there is a close similarity between the two. However, we shall wait and see how the game will play out and who will come out on top at the end of the two legs.
Who Will Win the First Leg?
A poll by UEFA.com suggest the first leg would likely be won by Real Madrid. Here is a screenshot of the poll as on the date of writing this news article.
That is no surprise as Madrid will be hosting the current Champions. Besides, Real Madrid has no game in between and have ample time to rest and prepare for this match.
Manchester City have two games to play before this UCL clash. Premier League games against Aston Villa and Crystal palace awaits on 4 April and 6 April. That’s one hectic schedule for Pep Guardiola and his men.
Disadvantage Madrid Once Again
Despite Real Madrid having an unsurprisingly decent odds against City, the fact that the second leg will be hosted by Manchester City at the Etihad gives them a clear advantage, as can be seen in the past results.
Not only that, pep himself has said in the past that he prefers a second leg at home. This is a warning for Real Madrid. Unless they have a comfortable 3 or 4 goals lead against City in the first leg, things could go uphill during the second leg.
City Injuries Ahead of UCL Quarter Final
Kyle Walker and John Stones are out injured during the international break. They may not be able to make it for the first leg. Besides, Ederson has not started since his injury during the 1-1 draw against Premier League leaders Liverpool.
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Ake had to be substituted in their latest match against Arsenal. This is actually not a good news for the City side despite the depth of their squad.
Players to Watch
Without a doubt, Erling Haaland is expected to star for Manchester City side along with playmaker Bernerdo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne.
As for Real, the fitness of Vinicius Junior will give a huge boost to the team. Add to that the likes of Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, this could be a contest of the competition.
Let’s wait and see which players comes out surprisingly oustanding, come 10 April 2024. During the last match between the two, Bernerdo Silva’s brace played a crucial role in City’s qualification and progression to winning the title at the end.
Score Prediction for First Leg
While we’re at it, why not predict the scores of the two teams when they meet at the Bernabéu? We can expect City to score a goal. With an advantage for Real Madrid in the first leg, we can predict them to come out on top with a narrow scoreline of 2-1 to Real Madrid.
What do you think of this prediction? Share your thoughts about Real Madrid vs Manchester City UCL Quarter Final first leg in the comments below today!
