The new ‘league phase’ of the Champions League was a breath of fresh air, shaking things up just when fans were starting to lose interest in the old group stage format. It added a different dynamic, kept things unpredictable, and made the competition feel more alive. But now, that phase is behind us, and the knockout phase is where things get serious.
And what better way to kick off the knockout rounds than with a showdown many expected to see much later in the tournament? Real Madrid vs Manchester City – a true heavyweight clash under the bright lights of the Champions League. These two European giants have been on a collision course for years, and tonight, they go head-to-head once again in a match that feels more like a final than a first-round knockout tie. To put the magnitude of this clash into perspective – Real Madrid and Manchester City are the last two winners of the Champions League. Therefore, the meeting between these two giants is premature. But the fans aren’t the ones complaining.
Both Real Madrid and Manchester City fell short of expectations in the ‘league phase’ of the Champions League. Despite winning five of their eight games, Madrid only managed to finish 11th, missing out on a top-eight spot by a single point. Meanwhile, City’s campaign was even more underwhelming. With just 11 points, they ended up in 22nd place and needed a dramatic comeback win over Club Brugge just to avoid an embarrassing early exit.
So, as they head into this massive showdown, Pep Guardiola’s side isn’t exactly brimming with confidence. In fact, by their own lofty standards, this might be their most challenging season under Guardiola. The cracks are showing, and if there was ever a time to take down the 2023 European champions, this could be it. However, there’s one major obstacle in Madrid’s way – City’s fortress-like home record in the Champions League. They are unbeaten in 34 straight UCL games at the Etihad, the longest run in the competition’s history. So, despite City’s struggles, Madrid won’t have it easy.
Date: 12th February 2025
Time: 1:30 AM (IST)
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Location: Manchester, England
Ederson; Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Silva, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland.
Courtois; Valverde, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy; Camavinga, Modric; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Mbappe.
Goalkeeper: Ederson (City)
Defenders: Manuel Akanji (City), Aurelien Tchouameni (Madrid), Josko Gvardiol (City)
Midfielders: Phil Foden (City), Jude Bellingham (Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (City), Federico Valverde (Madrid)
Forwards: Vinicius Junior (Madrid), Erling Haaland (City), Kylian Mbappe (Madrid)
Choice 1: Erling Haaland (C), Phil Foden (VC)
Choice 2: Vinicius Junior (C), Kylian Mbappe (VC)
The author has provided you with the above-mentioned match prediction on the basis of his research, understanding, and analysis, consider the points and make your own decision.
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