Manchester City are in Champions League action against the mighty Real Madrid tonight at the Bernabeu, and Pep Guardiola is looking to take a good result back to the Etihad Stadium.
City defeated Crystal Palace 4-2 at the weekend to keep their good form going, and that game was ideal preparation for tonight’s clash.
Real Madrid are going to want revenge for last season, when City dumped them out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage.
Pep Guardiola was asked yesterday about the potential for his team to replicate the level of performance in that second leg at the Etihad, but the manager insisted that would be ‘almost impossible’.
It promises to be a fascinating contest – and here is a team the manager may go with this evening…
Predicted Manchester XI to face Real Madrid – Rico Lewis in Kyle Walker role as Jack Grealish gets nod
After the win over Crystal Palace, Pep hailed Stefan Ortega Moreno as ‘an exceptional keeper’. The German has impressed in the absence of Ederson. It will be very interesting to see who he goes with, because the Brazilian was said to be feeling ‘really good’ over the weekend. It would be no real surprise if he was reinstated.
The defence pretty much picks itself tonight. Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake have not travelled with the squad. Josko Gvardiol is touch and go after picking up a knock, with the defender missing training yesterday.
So the backline will likely be Rico Lewis, John Stones, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji filling in on the left.
Should £25,000-a-week gem Lewis get the nod, it will be the biggest challenge of his career to date going up against the brilliant Vinicius Junior.
In midfield, we know Rodri is nailed on. It may be that he largely plays in a single pivot tonight, but with Stones potentially pushing into midfield when City have the ball.
Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden may both operate centrally as number eights ahead of him, with Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish out wide.
Bernardo produced a memorable performance against Real Madrid at the Etihad last season playing from the right side, and Pep may hope for more of the same tonight.
Grealish, 28, enjoyed two very solid performances last week against Aston Villa and Palace, and has a strong chance to start tonight. He would very much deserve to play on that left side.
And up top, Erling Haaland will lead the line. The Norwegian will likely be marked closely by Antonio Rudiger, who has been speaking about the ‘super’ striker ahead of the game. The German played well against him last season, and is seemingly determined to thwart him tonight.
Real Madrid vs Man City: TV channel, kick-off time, team news, prediction, referee & VAR
Real Madrid have many threats. Jude Bellingham has improved them a lot and this could potentially be a very difficult game.
But City have the quality, and form is on their side. Hopefully, the players can take at least a draw back to the Etihad and finish the job there.
Man City (4-3-3): Ortega/Lewis, Stones, Dias, Akanji/Rodri, Foden, De Bruyne/Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish.