Manchester City take on Real Madrid tomorrow night – and one star is set for the biggest challenge of his career to date.
City head to the Bernabeu for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final and are looking to take a positive result back to the Etihad Stadium.
City come into this game in terrific form, and are still unbeaten in 2024.
But Real Madrid in the Champions League is about as tough a test as you could ask for. That said, City got the job done last season over two legs so the precedent is there.
Pep Guardiola does have some injury concerns ahead of the game.
Kyle Walker will not be fit for game, which is a mega blow. And Nathan Ake also won’t play. Josko Gvardiol didn’t train today, but has travelled with the squad.
It potentially points to another start for young Rico Lewis – and simply put, it would be the biggest test in his fledgling career so far and a chance to make an enormous statement…
Rico Lewis’ stock will soar if he plays well for Manchester City against Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior
As a result of Walker’s injury on England duty, and then Ake limping out of the 0-0 draw with Arsenal, Lewis has been handed a few more opportunities by Pep.
And he has done a brilliant job since coming into the team.
He was fantastic when he came on in that game against Arsenal considering what was at stake, the fact he hadn’t played much football prior, and the quality of the opposition.
He then followed that up with top displays against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, and he now finds himself in strong contention to start at the Bernabeu tomorrow night.
And the ‘exceptional’ teenager would absolutely deserve to start.
It would be a serious test of how far he has come though. It doesn’t come much tougher for a right-back than playing against Vinicius Junior at the Bernabeu, with the Brazilian one of the finest wingers in the game today.
Normally, City have Walker as a good counter to him. But he’s not available for this first leg, meaning Lewis might deputise.
Certainly, if Gvardiol isn’t fit enough to start, then that would surely seal Lewis’ position on the right, because Manuel Akanji would have to play on the left, with John Stones and Ruben Dias in the middle.
Lewis has had Pep’s trust in the Champions League so far
It will be fascinating to see that teamsheet tomorrow night. But Lewis has certainly had Pep’s trust in the Champions League up to this point.
Of City’s eight Champions League games so far, £25,000-a-week star Lewis has played 90 minutes six times.
He has shown that he can play well and look very comfortable in this competition, and it would be fantastic to see him getting the nod.
But we will see what Pep decides to do. Everything may well hinge on the fitness of Gvardiol – if the Croatian is fit enough to start, it might be that Akanji plays in Walker’s position, with Stones pushing into midfield from the middle.
But if Lewis plays, then what an opportunity it is for him. If he fares well against Vinicius Junior at the Bernabeu, then his status as one of the top youngsters in football will be cemented.