Whites and Blues for a place in the final
As in last year's semifinals, there is a giant duel between Real Madrid and Manchester City. At that time, the white ballet was able to assert itself in a heart-stopping final. Now the star offensive around top scorer Erling Haaland , who has broken all records again, and Kevin De Bruyne is waiting for David Alaba and the Madrilenians. Can Real Madrid defend their title?
Another thrilling Champions League semi-final takes place in the spotlight of the Bernabeu on Tuesday night: Real Madrid host Manchester City for the first leg in the Spanish capital. The reigning Champions League winners beat Chelsea with four clean sheets in their two quarter-final first legs, while Pep Guardiola's side beat Bayern Munich 4-1.
Real Madrid and Manchester City also played each other in the semi-finals of the Champions League last season. The dominant ManCity "only" won the first leg 4-3. In the second leg, Rodrygo sent the duel into extra time with two goals in added time - where Benzema scored to win 3-1 and reach the final.
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Real Madrid enters the semi finals having won the Cup
Last Saturday night Rodrygo showed his goalscoring skills again as Real Madrid scored twice as they defeated Osasuna 2-1 in the Copa del Rey final. The up-and-coming Brazilian striker has featured twice as Los Blancos' goalscorer on several occasions this season. He also scored two important goals in the game against Chelsea, the second quarter-finals of the European Champions League, and thus ensured the Madrilenians progressed to the semi-finals. In fact, thanks to Rodrygo's goals, coach Carlo Ancelotti can continue to add to his trophy collection this month. In LaLiga, however, Real will soon have to pay homage to Barcelona following the coronation of King Charles as the Catalans edge ever closer to the La Liga Cup.
With the title in the premier class now almost a formality, Real Madrid will clearly aim for their 15th European championship title (European Champion Clubs' Cup included) in the remaining turbulent season. In the last five seasons in which the Madrilenians have reached the semi-finals, they have failed to reach the final only once- In 2020/21 they failed at eventual CL winners Chelsea. So a Sky Blues win over the holders on Tuesday could bode well, but few question Real Madrid's authority in Europe.
Ancelotti's side go into the first leg of the semi-finals with five straight Champions League wins and have scored in 16 straight competitive matches since losing 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in February 2022. In the Champions League they can show off with outstanding statistics, but not in all competitions is the vest of "Los Blancos" so white. Torro's goal for Osasuna in Saturday's Copa del Rey final extended Real Madrid's lack of clean sheets streak to four games. And without Eder Militao this semi final isn’t going to be easy for Madrid’s defensive line.
Real Madrid will be without Militao in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals as the centre-back received his third yellow card in the second leg of the quarter-finals and is suspended. Left-back Ferland Mendy is also likely to be absent as he is currently dealing with a calf injury. Luka Modric came on as a substitute in the Copa del Rey final after recovering from a hamstring problem and the 37-year-old should be given the green light to play on Tuesday - music to the ears of Ancelotti and the Bernabeu fans. Aurelien Tchouameni could be the unfortunate one who has to make way for Modric, while Antonio Rudiger will replace Militao in defense along with David Alaba. Just 20-year-old Eduardo Camavinga, who has already won all the major trophies with Real Madrid, is expected to continue playing at left-back.
Manchester City for the tremble
The “Sky Blues” also had a double pack last weekend. Captain Gündogan was close to scoring a first hat-trick of his career against Leeds United on Saturday but his penalty shot went wide of the post. Luckily for Guardiola and Co., the German had already done the damage with his two goals in the first half. Rodrigo reduced the deficit just two minutes after the penalty after Erling Braut Haaland - who caught a rare day in front of goal - gave Gündogan his blessing to stand in line. The end was then far more exciting than it should have been for Man City, but the end result is a four-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with the same number of games before the Gunners try to respond against third-placed Newcastle United on Sunday.
Manchester City have good chances of winning the treble after they managed a 3-0 first-leg win and a satisfying 1-1 draw in Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals against Bayern Munich. Of the Citizens' last 16 games in all competitions, that draw in Germany is the only game they haven't won, although Guardiola risks setting an unwanted record of seven Champions League semi-final eliminations as a manager. His current stat of six eliminations is the highest along with Jose Mourinho's. Their last elimination from the last four in the Champions League came against Real Madrid last year, when City won the first leg 4-3 but lost 3-1 in extra time at the Bernabeu. If last year's spectacle is anything to go by, fans and referees alike can look forward to an exciting game.
Guardiola also has a problem in defence: against Leeds he was without Nathan Ake in the 54th minute, who sustained a thigh injury, and fans are eagerly awaiting updates on the Dutchman's condition. Cole Palmer's ankle is also a problem, but the 21-year-old would never have played here. In any case, Guardiola will look to call Kyle Walker back to keep Vinicius Junior in check, while a host of well-recovered regulars in Rodri, John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish are likely to return to the front XI after Guardiola made several changes at the weekend had done. Haaland didn't have his best day over the weekend, though the Norwegian, who set the Premier League record for a season with 35 goals, is averaging a goal every 58 minutes in the Champions League - the best rate in the history of the competition - and will have plenty to see for his fans on Tuesday give.
Real Madrid - Manchester City: What to expect?
The two teams have met eight times so far. Both were able to win three times, there were only two draws. They have already met twice in the semi-finals of the premier class, once in 2022 and once in 2016, both times the winner after the return leg was Real Madrid. In 2020, Manchester City prevailed twice in the round of 16, both times with a 2-1 victory. There has only been one game between the top clubs in which neither team was able to score.
An injury-plagued Real Madrid defense without Militao could give Manchester City and especially Haaland hope for a goal festival. But experience shows that one should never underestimate Los Blancos in Europe. We bet on a Manchester City win and more than 2.5 goals .
- Manchester City to win (risk)
- Both Teams To Score
- Over 2.5
* All odds and markets are correct at time of publication and subject to change.