Manchester City face elimination from the Champions League tonight unless they can earn three points against Real Madrid at the Etihad stadium. The previous encounter was dubbed as a mouth-watering tie and this one is no different. Real Madrid won the previous tie 3-2, and will be looking to attack Man City once again.
This is Real Madrid's sixteenth consecutive season in the UEFA Champions league, a record only beaten by Manchester United. Real Madrid have always made it out of the Champions League group stages in each of their 17 participation's and have only failed to score once in their last 25 Champions League games, against Barcelona in the 2010/11 semi-finals. Madrid have played a staggering 169 more times than Manchester City in Europe's Elite competition, yet boast a poor record against English sides, with only three wins in eight games.
Manchester City failed to reach the knockout stages last season despite picking up ten points in the group stage, matching the record for the highest points haul without advancing. However, with currently just two points this season, it is looking increasingly likely that the Citizens will once again face elimination from Europes elite competition.
Domestically, City are unbeaten and currently top of the Premier League. There will be no better time to transfer their domestic form on to the European scale ? however against the team who are arguably favourites for the competitions is quite a feat.
Manchester City Last 5 Results: W D D W W
17/11/12 ? Man City 5 ? 0 Aston Villa
11/11/12 ? Man City 2 ? 1 Tottenham Hotspur
06/11/12 ? Man City 2 ? 2 Ajax
03/11/12 ? West Ham 0 ? 0 Man City
27/10/12 ? Man City 1 ? 0 Swansea
Real Madrid Last 5 Results: W W D W W
17/11/12 ? Real Madrid 5 ? 1 Atheltic Bilbao
11/11/12 ? Levante 1 ? 2 Real Madrid
06/11/12 ? Real Madrid 2 ? 2 Borussia Dortmund
03/11/12 ? Real Madrid 4 ? 0 Real Zaragoza
31/10/12 ? Alocyano 1 ? 4 Real Madrid
Possible lineups
Real Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Alonso, Khedira; Ozil, Modric, Ronaldo; Benzema (4-2-3-1)
Manchester City: Hart; Maicon, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; Yaya Toure, Garcia; Silva, Nasri; Tevez, Aguero (4-2-2-2)
Predicted Score: 1-2
I believe similarly to last season that Manchester City will be knocked out the competition. Like the first leg I think Real Madrid will boast to much class for City and dominate the tie. Although I do think City have the potential on home soil to score a goal, through someone like Sergio Aguero. However, for Madrid I think Ronaldo and Benzema will be on target.
Mourinho is desperate for another Champions League trophy ? and with failure in the semi-final last season, he will look at this campaign to win the trophy.
Source: DSG
Source: DSG