Champions League Showdown; Manchester City vs Real Madrid

2025-03-01

Manchester City and Real Madrid are set to clash in a highly anticipated Champions League knockout tie, reigniting their recent rivalry in European football. The two teams have faced each other in the past three Champions League campaigns, delivering some of the most thrilling matches in the competition’s modern history. This time, however, they meet earlier in the knockout stages due to City’s underwhelming group phase performance, which saw them finish 22nd and narrowly qualify for the play-offs with a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge.

Real Madrid, the reigning champions, struggled early in their continental campaign but secured back-to-back wins against RB Salzburg and Brest to climb to 11th in the league phase. Despite their array of superstars, Madrid has shown defensive vulnerabilities, exacerbated by injuries to key players like Lucas Vazquez, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Eder Militao, and Dani Carvajal. Federico Valverde is expected to fill in at right-back, potentially opening the door for Luka Modric to start in midfield.

Manchester City, meanwhile, faces its own challenges. Rodri, recovering from a torn ACL, has been included in the squad, though his return remains uncertain. New signing Vitor Reis has not been added to the squad, and doubts linger over Nico Gonzalez’s availability after he limped off with a back injury in his debut. Nathan Ake and Jeremy Doku are also likely to miss out due to injuries.

The first leg, set to kick off at 20:00 GMT, promises to be an open and high-scoring affair. Both teams have shown defensive frailties this season, with Madrid’s injury-hit backline and City’s struggles in defensive transitions. Madrid’s potent attack, led by Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham, will look to exploit City’s vulnerabilities, while Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne will aim to capitalize on Madrid’s makeshift defense.

The match is expected to be a chaotic and entertaining encounter, with both teams likely to score. The first leg could go either way, setting the stage for a dramatic second leg in Madrid.

Prediction: Manchester City 2-3 Real Madrid.

Fantasy Hockey News - Advice, Stats, Sleepers, Rankings and more - The Athletic

Breaking Fantasy Hockey news and in-depth analysis from the best newsroom in sports. Follow your favorite clubs. Get the latest injury updates, player

www.nytimes.com