Manchester City are looking to move into the UEFA Champions League final when they host Real Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday, May 17. Last Word on Sports tries to put together the Manchester City Predicted Lineup as they aim to eliminate the defending champions from the competition.
Manchester City Predicted Lineup vs Real Madrid
How Manchester City Have Lined-Up Recently
The Citizens have been in incredible form over the past few months heading into the final stretch of the campaign. Amid all this, Pep Guardiola doesn’t seem to be willing to make too many changes to his winning combination.
Their backline consisting of Ederson, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, John Stones and Manuel Akanji have formed a solid partnership. Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva – once called City’s “most effective player” by Guardiola – have formed a solid midfield line – while the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Jack Grealish and incredible summer signing Erling Haaland remain undroppable because of their immense influence during their success.
Manchester City Recent Form and Tactics
The Citizens are currently on a 22-match unbeaten streak in all competitions but saw their five-match winning run disrupted by Madrid in the previous leg at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. City lost the Champions League semis to Los Blancos last time around but have the home advantage this time as they push for the ambitious treble.
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City have been an unstoppable machine in home games this season and Guardiola’s change in style has also worked wonders. The new 3-2-4-1 formation allows a lot more flexibility for the players, even though this system also demands them to work twice as hard – be it covering for their teammates or operating smoothly out of position.
The Citizens are mostly focused on heavy-possession-based football and are often patient with their build-up play. However, they have enough quality in the team to make that special quick pass that can catch any backline off guard. They mostly use width to their advantage to progress the play forward, using quick, crisp passing to trouble opponents. Moreover, their midfielders often make clever off-the-ball runs into the final third to add more goal-scoring pressure for their team.
Manchester City Key Players
Haaland is predictably the biggest threat for City right now, having scored a whopping 52 goals in all competitions this season. While he might’ve been contained in the previous leg, the Norwegian forward remains a major problem for any opposition. With his brilliant off-the-ball runs, fantastic finishing ability and ruthlessness in the final third, Haaland will be one to keep an eye out for.
De Bruyne was prolific in the previous leg and proved just how decisive he can be. The midfielder’s impressive passing range, ability to play amazing defence-splitting passes and thunderous shots on goal makes him an unpredictable threat. Grealish is also innovative with his work on the left, being able to beat his man and cause chaos with his clever passing. Gundogan is a man in form who can be sneaky with his movement in the final third to add a goal-scoring threat.
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While City should dominate the game – they’ll need to be wary of Real Madrid’s counter-attacking threat. This means Rodri will have to be swift in cutting out the counter-attacks. The entire back line will need to be at its best to contain the current holders of the competition.
Manchester City Injuries to Consider
Pep Guardiola has confirmed Nathan Ake remains the only injury absentee for City ahead of the Real Madrid clash.
Manchester City Predicted Lineup
Ederson, Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish, Kevin de Bruyne, Erling Haaland.
