Ahead of Wednesday’s crunch UEFA Champions League second-leg play-off, we have the Real Madrid vs Man City preview, prediction, latest team news and predicted lineups.
Real Madrid Vs Man City Preview
Real Madrid will not want to be on the receiving end of one of the greatest UCL comebacks of all-time. Los Blancos hold a 3-2 first leg lead over the current Premier League champions.
Although previous deficits being overturned have often been of greater margins, the La Liga giants will need to be very wary at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side seems to have it in their DNA to get the job done. Especially when they are not playing at their best.
Domestically, that is something that has been evident in recent weeks. Not playing at their imperious best. On Saturday, Madrid drew 1-1 with Osasuna whereby Jude Bellingham received a controversial red card.
The stalemate means it is now three games without a win in the league. Hardly the ideal preparation going into such a crucial fixture but it would be naive to rule Madrid out of progressing.
💪 @David_Alaba
👟 @DaniCeballos46 pic.twitter.com/2mKfynztl3— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 16, 2025
Man City head to the Bernabeu still wounded after their late first-leg collapse. Erling Haaland opened the scoring before Kylian Mbappe shinned home the equaliser.
Haaland then netted from the spot with barely 10 minutes of action left to play. Former City star Brahim Diaz levelled again before Bellingham netted in stoppage time to give the Spaniards a slender advantage.
However, the Cityzens made amends when they thrashed Newcastle 4-0 on Saturday. Winter addition Omar Marmoush scored a stunning 14-minute hat-trick.
Local lad James McAtee came off the bench to net the fourth. That result has provided the perfect remedy going into Wednesday night’s battle.
Ahead of the game, the best football betting sites in the UK price Real Madrid as the 22/25 favourites. Man City can be backed at 27/10 with the draw 7/2.
Real Madrid Vs Man City Team News
Jude Bellingham’s red card will not see the Real Madrid star miss the second-leg as the potential suspension only applies to La Liga matches.
Defenders Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba are expected to be passed fit and the duo will likely start. However, Lucas Vázquez, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão and Joan Martínez are all definitely ruled out.
On the suspension front, five players could miss the first leg of the last 16 clash. Assuming Real get there. Those in question are Bellingham, Endrick, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouameni and Luka Modrić.
Meanwhile, Man City have a concerning Erling Haaland injury update to navigate. The Norwegian superstar appeared to jar his knee in the build up to James McAtee’s goal against Newcastle.
There are also concerns over Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake. The trio will all take late fitness tests after their recent problems.
Kevin De Bruyne is available after being rested on the weekend. Manuel Akanji, Rodri and Oscar Bobb are all still missing.
✈️ A trip to the Santiago Bernabeu
🏟️ Liverpool visit the Etihad
📺 Two live matches on CITY+Everything you need to know ahead of a huge week at City 👇
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 17, 2025
Real Madrid Vs Man City Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Valverde, Tchouameni, Rüdiger, Mendy; Camavinga, Ceballos, Bellingham; Viní Jr, Mbappé, Rodrygo
Man City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol; Gonzalez, Kovacic; Savinho, Foden, Haaland, Marmoush
Real Madrid Vs Man City Prediction
When these two collide there’s normally a plethora of goals and we are expecting that to happen once again. The last time Real Madrid met Man City on home soil it finished 3-3.
We are going to predict a narrow Madrid win on Wednesday night. City have to go for it and Carlo Ancelotti’s side have the firepower to just about get the job done.
Prediction: Real Madrid 3-2 Man City
