Manchester City and Real Madrid are about to face a Champions League semi-final which for both is almost the highlight of the season. Pep Guardiola’s perfect machine, who effectively won the championship for the umpteenth time thanks to yesterday’s defeat by Arsenal, now has his sights set on the trophy he has never won and which the Spanish coach hasn’t lifted since 2011, as well as the FA Cup. Missing the European goal once again, given the premises, would be a heavy blow for the Citizens, confident of beating Real on Wednesday, also taking revenge for the 2022 semi-final.
Guardiola is very happy to have the opportunity to score the historic Premier-Champions-England Cup hat-trick. “It’s a dream come true to have reached this point – said the manager after yesterday’s victory over Everton -, we are the only team in Europe still fighting for all competitions. We have nothing in hand, if not the dream, but this is already an extraordinary result and we hope to complete it”. If the blancos rhyme with the Champions League, this time Ancelotti’s team does not start as favorites against a City that is unbeaten in 22 games and lined up in front of Erling Haaland.
The man of 52 goals in 48 games failed in the first leg and the odds suggest stopping him again won’t be easy for the Spanish defenders. A super performance from Real will therefore be needed, which will also have to find a way to overcome one of the strongest rearguards around, taking advantage of Vinicius’ skills and Benzema’s experience, who was a bit in the shade in the first leg. Both teams do not complain of absences and even at Real the alarm for Camavinga has returned, who left prematurely in Saturday’s match against Getafe due to a blow to his knee.
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