Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Champions League preview and betting tips

The Manchester City vs Real Madrid return leg will be one of the most watched games this season. The Madrid giants have never won at the Etihad Stadium and must break that curse to reach the semi-finals. The Citizens are further buoyed by the weekend’s move to the top of the Premier League. The match will be played on Wednesday, April 17 at 21:00. Nova Sport 3 will offer live coverage.

Where to watch Manchester City vs Real Madrid?

Fans can watch the likely early final of this year’s Champions League on 17 April at 21:00 on Nova Sport 3.

Manchester City have yet to lose at home this season

If we are looking for the biggest weapon of the current Manchester City, we come across home games. The Citizens have not lost at home yet this season. What’s more, the last home game Pep Guardiola’s team lost on the European stage was on September 19, 2018. The opponent was French Lyon. Erling Haaland also got into the swing of things at the weekend, orchestrating a 5-1 win over Luton with a goal and an assist.

Staying with Haaland, he was completely invisible in the first game at the Santiago Bernabéu. German stopper Rudiger knew his way around the Norwegian striker and cleared him flawlessly for the full 90 minutes. Last year’s first game already showed how Rudiger can be the better man when facing Haaland.

Real Madrid must win at the Etihad for the first time in their history

If there was one wish Real fans had before the home game, it was to win. After all, the Spanish club had never won at Manchester City’s stadium. Out of 5 matches, the home team has won 3 times and the match has ended in a draw twice. Carlo Ancelotti has to do without the sidelined Aurelian Tchouameni, with whom the White Ballet has not lost in the current season. The Frenchman also scored a beautiful goal to decide the weekend’s game against Mallorca. Reports from Madrid are that Nacho will start in the starting line-up instead of the Frenchman.

In addition, the trio of Vinícius, Bellingham and Cammavinga are still facing a penalty for the opening game of the possible semi-final. Receiving a yellow card for one of those named would be another allocated problem for the Italian strategist on the Real bench. First, however, Ancelotti’s squad must contend with the problem called Manchester City.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid odds

Betting tip – Both teams to score

If Real Madrid took anything away from last year’s game in England, it was a little activity on the ball. So this year, expect more quality in the attacking phase and also to score a goal. The first match showed very attractive football that both teams could continue, especially the visitors are not a team that often plays in a deep block and just defends. Phil Foden is in excellent form, which he showed in the opening game, he will surely want to add a goal this time as well.