10 hours ago
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Manchester City have a few injury problems but Real Madrid have more and endured a damaging home defeat at the weekend
Manchester City will head to the Bernabeu for the fifth time in four years with more spring in their step than their last visit. Pep Guardiola's side were broken and bruised before they even kicked off for the second leg of their Champions League play-off ten months ago, and they were soundly beaten by their biggest rivals in the competition.
This time, there is much to be happier about. City may still not be close to where they want to be in terms of team performances, but the manager hailed Saturday's 3-0 win over Sunderland as one of their finest in 2025 and the result took them to within two points of the Premier League summit. With three games to go in the first phase of the Champions League, City are jostling for a top-eight finish that would see them straight through to the last-16.
They may need a result against Real to get there, and they know better than anyone how difficult that is. At the same time, Real are not close to where they want to be either as their problems under new coach Xabi Alonso stack up ahead of hosting the Blues.
Alonso has been able to get a tune out of star striker Kylian Mbappe this season and Jude Bellingham has successfully returned from injury, yet it has been harder to get threatening performances out of longtime City nemeses Vincius Jr and Rodrygo. Carlo Ancelotti was adored by the Real dressing room and there have been rumours of grumblings as the galacticos adapt to the new era under Alonso.
As City enjoyed one of their best performances on Saturday, Real slumped to a disastrous result. Their 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo leaves them four points off La Liga leaders Barcelona and only a point ahead of Villarreal having played a game more, and they also had two players sent off and lost centre-back Eder Militao to injury.
Militao will now likely miss the City game, and will be in good company. Trent Alexander-Arnold has already been ruled out with a thigh injury while Dani Carvajal are also out. Dean Huijsen, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy could all be absent as well with injury to leave Real a lot weaker than they could be.
City will be missing Rodri and Mateo Kovacic, as well as John Stones potentially. The England defender wasn't involved in the Sunderland game after picking up an injury and Guardiola could not say how long he will be out for.
Nevertheless, Guardiola should feel his side are in better fitness and form as they travel to Spain for what they know is always one of the toughest fixtures in their calendar.
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