Manchester City-Real Madrid: Champions League semi-final spot at stake
The Whites now face the second leg of the quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium after a 3-3 draw in the first leg (9pm CEST).
Real Madrid and Manchester City go head-to-head in the return leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. The clash at the Etihad Stadium will determine whether the LaLiga leaders or the Premier League’s table-toppers will progress to the semi-finals. The tie is evenly balanced after the scintillating 3-3 in the first leg (9pm CEST).
This will also be a clash between two of the most in-form teams in European football. Not only because of the spectacular way they both played in the first leg at the Bernabéu, but also because they have demonstrated that they are very difficult to beat. Indeed, Ancelotti's side have now gone 15 official matches without defeat (10 wins), while the English side have not lost since 6 December.
“It'll be a spectacular and highly entertaining match,” said Ancelotti at the press conference ahead of the clash between the last two European champions. The Italian coach named a squad including all his players except the injured Courtois and Alaba. Tchouameni is suspended for the match. Jude Bellingham accompanied the coach at the press conference and spoke about the motivation with which the Whites will face the game: “We're feeling confident and we trust in ourselves.”
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola's side head into the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals in impressive form. The reigning European champions, who are the competition's top scorers with 27 goals, arrive on the back of a win over Luton Town in the Premier League (5-1). Following the recent defeats by Arsenal and Liverpool, they have moved to the top of the standings. Haaland (31) and Foden (22) top their scoring charts this season.