Manchester City and Real Madrid have confirmed their starting lineups ahead of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg clash tonight. The match at the Bernabeu promises to an enthralling affair. City and Real have developed a real rivalry in recent seasons and the next chapter in it begins tonight.
For Pep Guardiola and Manchester City they will head into tonight’s game off the back of consecutive wins over Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. Although their defensive performances have been a concern the goals have flowed for the European champions. They have scored 8 goals in their past two games and will be hopimg that form carries into tonight’s match. Real Madrid they come into tonight’s game off a 9 day break and will be primed for the visit of the world champions.
On the injury front the treble winners must take on Real Madrid without Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake. The pair failed to travel to Spain for tonight’s match as confirmed by Pep Guardiola yesterday. Josko Gvardiol is also in doubt after failing to train with his teammates yesterday. For Carlo Ancelotti’s side only Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba are unavailable due to knee injuries.
Here are the starting lineups for what promises to be a spectacular game of football at the Bernabeu.
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has made four changes to the starting lineup from City’s 4-2 win over Crystal Palace last weekend. In comes Manuel Akanji, Mateo Kovacic, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva. Out goes Kevin De Bruyne, Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb and Julian Alvarez.
Starting lineup: Stefan Ortega, Akanji, Stones, Dias (C), Gvardiol, Rodri, Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Foden, Grealish, Haaland.
Substitutes: Ederson, Carson, Doku, De Bruyne, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Susoho, Lewis.
Real Madrid
More must-reads: