Clash of the titans, game between super heavy clubs (in terms of players price and wages) happens maybe to early in this edition of Champions League. In one corner is club with the most European Champions League/Cup of Champions trophies while in other is the most successful club in England in recent seasons, but the one which never picked up the biggest European trophy. They won only former European Cup Winners Cups once. Welcome to Real Madrid - Manchester City game preview.
Real Madrid
They looked very bad I would dare to say poor at beginning of group stage when PSG trashed them 3:0, then not much better against Club Brugge which took 0:2 lead in Madrid, but game ended in 2:2. Then they woke up and win Galatasaray two times, draw 2:2 with PSG with some referee controversies and won Club Brugge 3:1 away. Zidane's players look solid in La Liga where they are second behind Barcelona thanks to recent defeat from Levante. Benzema, Bale, Hazard, two young Brazilians Junior and Rodrygo and "Serbian Falcao" (according to Red Star chairman Zvezdan Terzic) L. Jovic are very dangerous players. Recent Balon d'or winner L. Modric, Casemiro, T.Kroos, Isco, old fox backward Sergio Ramos are all very frightening names. I have no doubt they are planning to win this competition this season. Everything except winning would be unacceptable result for "Los Biancos"
Manchester City
Champion of England is also full of great players, maybe not with so big and famous names, but very expensive and skillful. Aguero, B. Silva, Mahrez, Jesus, Fernandino, De Bruyne, David Silva are all respectable names. They are far behind Liverpool on the table without chance to defend title and their main goal for rest of season is to be second in league and to get all other trophies. I saw their recent games against Manchester United in League Cup, Tottenham and Leicester in Premier League and I can notice that they miss to many chances. They dominate possession, create a lot of chances, but they are not clinical in front of goal like they were before. Guardiola's boys also don't know how to score goal from penalty spot. :) In Leicester game my humble opinion is that they robbed Foxes. De Bryune's handball and Ederson's punch after late attempt to get the ball which brought Leicester player to the ground with possible brain concussion was not even checked by VAR, while they were of course awarded penalty when Leicester player did handball in the box. Ederson's attempt was penalty for me. It didn't differ much from Gazaniga's kung fu kick in Tottenham-Chelsea game. Anyway I must notice they were better match against Leicester.
Form
In this season Champions League Real Madrid had these results:
18.09.19 UCL PSG 3 - 0 Real Madrid
01.1019 UCL Real Madrid 2 - 2 Club Brugge
22.10.19 UCL Galatasaray 0 - 1 Real Madrid
06.11.19 UCL Real Madrid 6 - 0 Galatasaray
26.11.19 UCL Real Madrid 2 - 2 PSG
11.12.19 UCL Club Brugge 1 - 3 Real Madrid
Manchester City had impressive results:
18.09.19 UCL Shakhtar Donetsk 0 - 3 Manchester City
01.10.19 UCL Manchester City 2 - 0 Dinamo Zagreb
22.10.19 UCL Manchester City 5 - 1 Atalanta
06.11.19 UCL Atalanta 1 - 1 Manchester City
26.11.19 UCL Manchester City 1 - 1 Shakhtar Donetsk
11.12.19 UCL Dinamo Zagreb 1 - 4 Manchester City
Sidelined players
Real Madrid main players are all ready for this game. Injury/suspension list contains not so important names: Marc Bartra (suspension), Borja Iglesias, Diego Laínez, Francis Guerrero, Juan Miguel Juanmi Lopez. Last two might be ready for this game.
Manchester City has Raheem Sterling (muscle injury) doubtful for this game and Leroy Sane returned to training after injury.
Head to head
Clubs have recent history. Real won 2 games both at home, while 2 games in Manchester ended in draw.
04.05.2016 Real Madrid - Manchester City 1:0
26.04.2016 Manchester City - Real Madrid 0:0
21.11.2012 Manchester City - Real Madrid 1:1
18.09.2012 Real Madrid - Manchester City 3:2
Of course Guardiola has history with Real Madrid as ex Barcelona coach. :)
Conclusion
I think bookmakers made big mistake when they announce Manchester City as big favorite here. Real Madrid has to many to skillful players who know how to deal with Manchester City pressure. City might look good in build up of play and in number of created chances, but they are not clinical in front of goal (at least in last few games) and once opponent deal with their pressing and take ball on their half things start to look ugly for them. Madrid will do that. Their tactic is not to suitable against club with to many skillful players. Maybe recent defeat against Levante made this delusion to bookmakers, but to me that shows just that they prepared for City.
Madrid is not underdog against anyone on Santiago Bernabeu! Odd of 2.80 for Madrid is to generous. I'll take risk here for 50 SCR. You can bet against me at betscorum here: https://betscorum.com/en-us/game/46424
I think game will end with 3:1 victory for Real Madrid and that first who will score will be K.Benzema.
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