Rarely do record 15-time winners Real Madrid enter a Champions League clash as underdogs but this is the situation when Manchester City visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
With key attackers Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes set to miss the game with injuries and Alvaro Arbeloa’s team in inconsistent form, the English Premier League side are firm favorites in the last-16 tie.
City beat Madrid in the league phase in Spain and have strengthened since then, with Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi arriving, while midfielder Rodri is back after missing that match.
Xabi Alonso was at Madrid’s helm then, but his successor Arbeloa has not got the team playing with more quality or consistency. Perhaps his biggest success has been helping winger Vinicius Junior back to form, and the Brazilian winger represents Madrid’s best hope of success against City.
Vinicius said he had felt “a little tired” after beating Celta Vigo in La Liga on Friday, with the team leaning on him over the past few matches. By contrast City coach Pep Guardiola rested striker Erling Haaland for his team’s FA Cup win over Newcastle at the weekend.
In the past Madrid have shown grit to get through Champions League ties when they have been outplayed and they will likely need to find that resolve again.
Arbeloa called on Madrid’s supporters, who have been critical of their own players at times this season, to inspire the team against City.
“We need them and they know it better than anyone,” said Arbeloa. “It’s a Champions League night against a very tough opponent, one of the biggest clubs in the world of football right now. Playing at home, we know we’re much stronger when the Madrid fans are on our side.”
There has been some speculation that Madrid’s top scorer Mbappe, who hit a hat-trick last season against City in the playoff round, could make a surprise return tonight.However, Spanish newspaper AS reports both he and Bellingham are targeting a potential return in the second leg.
Madrid have problems elsewhere with defenders Eder Militao and Alvaro Carreras and midfielder Dani Ceballos sidelined, and David Alaba also doubtful.
In other ties, Premier League leaders Arsenal are favorites as they travel to Bayer Leverkusen while Liam Rosenior returns to France with Chelsea to face Paris Saint-Germain, just two months since leaving Strasbourg for Stamford Bridge.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
