Real Madrid vs Manchester City Match preview

Manuel Pellegrini says Manchester City will have a different attitude than Real Madrid showed in the first leg when it travels to Santiago Bernabeu, with the home side hoping star man Cristiano Ronaldo will be passed fit to play.<br /><br />The 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal at the Etihad Stadium - which Ronaldo missed with a hamstring injury - has the tie evenly poised as the two teams meet on Wednesday bidding to reach the final in Milan.<br /><br />Madrid is looking to make what would be its 14th final in Europe's elite club competition, while City has already broken new ground in the tournament this season by making it past the last-16 for the first time. The Citizens' only continental final was the Cup Winners' Cup final win over Gornik Zabrze in 1970.<br /><br />The statistics are in Madrid's favor, with only 31 per cent of the teams who have drawn the home leg of a Champions League knockout tie going on to progress (nine out of 29).<br /><br />Madrid has also kept a clean sheet in all five of its Champions League home games this season, but Pellegrini is going to Spain targeting an away goal that he thinks could make all the difference.<br /><br />"I was surprised that Madrid sat so deep in the first leg," he told El Mundo Deportivo. "In the first half, especially, the team who wanted to get the ball higher and had more intent was ours. Perhaps at some point they were overwhelmed and maybe speculated, rightly, to play the first away match trying not to lose. Our team lacked a lot of creativity, lost the ball very quickly, but I think we had an attitude of trying to win the game. <br /><br />"We will try to do exactly the same in Madrid. We will not go to the Bernabeu trying for a goalless draw. We will try to get high, press and score a goal because a draw will favor us if we score." <br /><br />Asked about Madrid's home defensive record, he said: "Statistics are there to be broken and I also see Madrid playing more openly. <br /><br />"In Europe we have had a breakthrough. Before I arrived, the team was eliminated in the group stage, then fell twice in the second round eliminated by Barcelona. Now we are in the semifinals - it is a club that is growing and winning titles."<br /><br />Ronaldo completed training on Monday ahead of the game, while Madrid is also hoping to have Karim Benzema fit after he limped out of the opening match with his own hamstring problem at halftime.<br /> <br /> <br />

Real Madrid vs Manchester City Match preview

Manuel Pellegrini says Manchester City will have a different attitude than Real Madrid showed in the first leg when it travels to Santiago B...

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Bayern Munich v Atletico Madrid: Preview

Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng is confident he will be able to play in the crucial Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.<br /><br />Boateng made his return from three months out with a groin injury against Borussia Monchengladbach at the weekend, playing 68 minutes of a 1-1 draw which meant Bayern had to wait a little longer to confirm themselves as Bundesliga champions for the fourth successive season.<br /><br />The Germany international had been one of Bayern's most consistent players during the first half of the campaign and his return could prove timely, with Pep Guardiola's team looking to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit against the Spanish side at the Allianz Arena.<br /><br />``Of course, I can play,'' Boateng told the club's official website. ``I will do my very best to recover as much as possible. We want to give it our all, and so do I.<br /><br />``It's clear that I am not yet back at the level I was at before the injury, but it doesn't matter when it comes to this match.<br /><br />``I was just happy to finally be back out on the pitch I am very pleased, even though I played two or three bad passes. But I need to get a feeling for the pitch again - the passes, the scenes, the turns.<br /><br />``That's all new to me after three months, but I am pleased, and will not change my game because of two or three bad passes. I want to play on Tuesday.''<br /><br />Another player desperate to play in the semi-final second leg is Franck Ribery. The winger missed the home draw with Monchengladbach with a back problem but was free to train on Monday as he called on Guardiola to pick him as the man to unlock Atletico's dogged defence.<br /><br />He told Kicker: ``I am doing a lot better. I am ready for the game against Atletico. I am really looking forward to playing against them. I have to play.''<br /><br />For Guardiola, Tuesday could be the night that defines his spell in Germany ahead of moving to Manchester City next summer.<br /><br />Win, and he is into the Champions League final; lose, and his time with Bayern might be remembered as much for three semi-final exits as it will be for their domestic dominance.<br /><br />Atletico lead courtesy of Saul Niguez's superb solo goal at the Vicente Calderon last week but Bayern have a formidable home record in the Champions League and must be confident of turning the tie around.<br /><br />Since losing the 2014 semi-final to Real Madrid, Bayern have won all 11 Champions League games in Munich. Another victory would equal Manchester United's record in the competition from 2006 to 2009.<br /><br />However, Atletico will not rest on their slender advantage and head coach Diego Simeone insists his team will be going for the win in Bavaria.<br /><br />``Let's go out and win. We know that the draw gets us through but we cannot think of staying in it. Winning is the essence of the game,'' said Simeone at his pre-match press conference.<br /><br />``I do not have any shame to acknowledge that I have fear - now and before every game.''<br /><br />Simeone gave little away about whether influential defender Diego Godin would return from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the first leg but praised the performances of fellow centre-backs Jose Gimenez, Stefan Savic and Lucas Hernandez this season.<br /><br />``We are fortunate to have four major centre-backs,'' he said. ``Godin's presence is very important but the form of Gimenez, Hernandez and Savic gives us security.''<br /> <br /> <br />

Bayern Munich v Atletico Madrid: Preview

Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng is confident he will be able to play in the crucial Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid on ...

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Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Preview

<div class="td-pb-span8 td-main-content" role="main"> <div class="td-ss-main-content"> <div class="clearfix"> </div> <br /> <article class="post-12712 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-match-previews tag-manchester-city tag-real-madrid tag-uefa-champions-league" id="post-12712" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Article">  <div class="comments" id="comments"> <img alt="Manchester City vs Real Madrid-Champions League Semi-Final 26-April-2016 Kick-Off Time" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12715 td-animation-stack-type1-2" height="100" sizes="(max-width: 726px) 100vw, 726px" src="http://leaguelane.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Manchester-City-vs-Real-Madrid-Champions-League-Semi-Final-26-April-2016-Kick-Off-Time.jpg" srcset="http://leaguelane.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Manchester-City-vs-Real-Madrid-Champions-League-Semi-Final-26-April-2016-Kick-Off-Time.jpg 726w, http://leaguelane.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Manchester-City-vs-Real-Madrid-Champions-League-Semi-Final-26-April-2016-Kick-Off-Time-300x41.jpg 300w, http://leaguelane.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Manchester-City-vs-Real-Madrid-Champions-League-Semi-Final-26-April-2016-Kick-Off-Time-696x96.jpg 696w" width="726" /><br /> <br /> Manchester City host Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League 2015/16 semifinals at Etihad Stadium.<br /> Manchester City are in the competition’s semifinals for the first time in their history and the previous best was round of 16 appearances in in 2013/14 and 2014/15; and were knocked-out by Barcelona on both occasions.<br /> Real Madrid are in their sixth consecutive semifinal appearance in the competition, but gone past to the final only once, in 2013/14, when they went to lift their tenth title. This is also their first semi-final against an English club in UEFA competitions since the 3-4 defeat to Manchester United in 1967/68 season.<br /> <h4> <b>Form Comparison</b></h4> Manchester City’s overall record in this season’s Champions League is 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats. They are also unbeaten in the last five with 3 wins and 2 draws.<br /> At home, City are unbeaten in their last 4 matches, with 3 wins and a draw and also kept clean sheets in the last two. Their only home defeat this season came against Juventus in the opening day of the tournament.<br /> Real Madrid’s unbeaten record in the competition was broken by a 2-0 Wolfsburg win in the first leg of the quarter final tie. Their overall record this season is still formidable with 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss in 10 matches.<br /> The Los Blancos have a 100% win record at home in this year’s Champions League and are yet to concede a goal in 5 matches at the Santiago Bernebeu.<br /> <h4> <b>Manchester City: Team News</b></h4> There are no major injury concerns for Manuel Pellegrini in the build up to this match. Raheem Sterling, Vincent Kompany and David Silva are all fit and set to start against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.<br /> <h4> <b>Manchester City: Predicted Line-up (4-2-3-1)</b></h4> Hart,<br /> Kolarov, Otamendi, Mangala, Zabaleta,<br /> Fernandinho, Toure,<br /> Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne,<br /> Aguero.<br /> <h4> <b>Real Madrid: Team News</b></h4> Ronaldo is set to return to the starting line-up after Zidane rested him in the weekend clash. Gareth Bale is also set to start even though he may not be fully fit.<br /> While Karim Benzema remains a bid doubt after hobbling off in the first half of the 3-2 win against Rayo Vallecano.<br /> Carvajal remains sidelined with an injury and Danilo is the automatic replacement for him in the starting line-up.<br /> <h4> <b>Real Madrid: Predicted Line-up (4-3-3)</b></h4> Navas,<br /> Marcelo, Ramos, Pepe, Danilo,<br /> Casemiro, Modric, Kroos,<br /> Ronaldo, Bale, Jese.<br /> <h4> <b>Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Head-to-Head Stats</b></h4> Manchester City and Real Madrid had met only once in a competitive fixtures and this was during the 2012/13 group stage of the Champion League.<br /> Real Madrid are unbeaten in the two meetings with a 3-2 win at home and 1-1 draw at Manchester.<br /> Manchester City’s overall record against Spanish oppositions from 15 matches so far is 5 wins, 3 draws and 7 defeats. And at home, they won in 3, drawn 2 and lost 2 out of 7 matches. They met Sevilla in this season’s group stage, winning both home and away on that occasion.<br /> Real Madrid’s record against English opponents from 32 matches in UEFA competitions is 13 wins, 9 draws and 10 defeats. And their record in England is 6 wins, 3 draws and 5 defeats from 14 visits.<br /> Madrid haven’t lost a match against Premier League teams in their last 6 meetings, since the 4-0 heavy defeat against Liverpool in the knock out stages of 2008/09 season.<br /> <h4> <b>Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Prediction</b></h4> Manchester City will go in as slight favorites in the first leg tie on the back of their home advantage. The Citizens are unbeaten in their last 7 games in all competitions, but they are yet to play at their full potential.<br /> Despite their good form in recent months, Real Madrid are far less convincing in away games. This was evident in the first leg loss at Wolfsburg and the weekend 3-2 win over a relegation threatened Rayo.<br /> And this is also Manchester City’s best chance to put them in a strong position before going into the second leg at Bernebeu. However, I am hardly convinced that the Citizens can come with a win from this tie. Real Madrid will be on top of their game and will already have their sights set on a record 11th Champions League title.<br /> My prediction for this match is a 2-2 draw.<br /> <figure class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_12714" style="width: 1094px;"><img alt="Manchester City vs Real Madrid- Statistical Betting Prediction-Champions League Semi-Final 26-April-2016" class="size-full wp-image-12714 td-animation-stack-type1-2" height="392" sizes="(max-width: 1094px) 100vw, 1094px" src="http://leaguelane.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Manchester-City-vs-Real-Madrid-Statistical-Betting-Prediction-Champions-League-Semi-Final-26-April-2016.jpg" srcset="http://leaguelane.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Manchester-City-vs-Real-Madrid-Statistical-Betting-Prediction-Champions-League-Semi-Final-26-April-2016.jpg 1094w, http://leaguelane.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Manchester-City-vs-Real-Madrid-Statistical-Betting-Prediction-Champions-League-Semi-Final-26-April-2016-300x107.jpg 300w, http://leaguelane.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Manchester-City-vs-Real-Madrid-Statistical-Betting-Prediction-Champions-League-Semi-Final-26-April-2016-768x275.jpg 768w, http://leaguelane.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Manchester-City-vs-Real-Madrid-Statistical-Betting-Prediction-Champions-League-Semi-Final-26-April-2016-1024x367.jpg 1024w, http://leaguelane.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Manchester-City-vs-Real-Madrid-Statistical-Betting-Prediction-Champions-League-Semi-Final-26-April-2016-696x249.jpg 696w, http://leaguelane.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Manchester-City-vs-Real-Madrid-Statistical-Betting-Prediction-Champions-League-Semi-Final-26-April-2016-1068x383.jpg 1068w" width="1094" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Statistical Betting Prediction</figcaption></figure> <h4> <b></b> </h4> <!-- #respond --> </div> </article><!-- /.content --> <br /> <div class="clearfix"> </div> </div> </div>

Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Preview

  Manchester City host Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League 2015/16 semifinals at Etihad Stadium. Manchest...

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