After a thrilling ninety minutes in the first leg of the 2021/22 Champions League semifinal, Manchester City travels to Spain to face Real Madrid which promises to be another cracker of a game in the second leg.
City squandered guilted chances to increase their lead as Real Madrid managed to get back into the game although they trail narrowly 4-3 heading into the second leg.
RMA vs MCI Champions League Semi Final Match 2nd leg Details
Date: Wednesday, 4th May 2022/ Thursday, 5th May 2022
Time: 19:00 (GMT)/ 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
RMA vs MCI Champions League Semi Final Match 2nd leg Preview
The first leg of this semifinal had everything. Fans of both the sides and the neutral world were treated with a lot of goals as both the clubs got punished for their respective drawbacks that night. For Real Madrid, it was Casemiro's absence and their at times too defensive football that chipped in four goals. However, the prestige of this competition and having an x-factor in Karim Benzema once again have given Real the chance to have a close battle in the second leg to make it to the final. The Frenchman's Panenka for the third goal in the first leg broke social media and he certainly solidified his claim for the Balon d'Or with his 26th strike off the bench in the 4-0 win over Espanyol on Saturday that landed Real Madrid their 35th La Liga title. It was also his 34th goal in all competitions. Benzema is also the highest scorer in the Champions League this season with 14 goals. Undoubtedly, he will be instrumental again to get them over the line. Casemiro's return to play the defensive midfielder role will also be crucial. Accomplishing their mission domestically, heads are now turned to quench their thirst for their 14th continental crown. To Real's advantage, they are masters of overcoming peril situations as seen in history and this season in the previous two rounds of the Champions League.
This could make matters dangerous for Manchester City left frustrated with their missed chances and shoddy defending at the back. Much of that lie with the right back problem with John Stones and later Fernandinho stepping into the role in the absence of a real full-back available to them. Fair to Man City that they are Man City who are one of the top sides in creating numerous goal mouth chances and converting them even if they miss more than score. Four goals could have easily sealed the tie but with a disorganized back four and an opposition like Real Madrid the chance of a bumpy ride was always there. Pep Guardiola, as always, is unfazed by the prospect of missing chances saying City will qualify even if they play a repeat of the performance in the first leg.
Even with Kyle Walker returning and Joao Cancelo clearing his suspension, City wishes to pick out the necessary result this time with convection unlike their boss's saying. Also their opposition is free of any other hurdle to climb elsewhere which Cityzens have to in order to defend their league title with Liverpool sniffing around. Manchester City have to take each step with precision now if they dream to enter consecutive final and conquer the prize for the very first time in their history.
Recent Form (all competitions)
Real Madrid: WLWWL
Man City: WWWWL
RMA vs MCI Champions League Semi Final Match 2nd leg Expected Lineups
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Nacho Fernandez, Ferland Mendy, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Jr
Manchester City: Ederson; Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, Phil Foden
RMA vs MCI Champions League Semi Final Match 2nd leg Team News
The big relief for Real Madrid is Casemiro is back fit again contributing to 61 minutes in Los Blancos's La Liga securing victory over Espanyol. His service was greatly missed in the first leg. David Alaba played with an injury in the first leg and was withdrawn at halftime. He has trained indoors along with Gareth Bale who has a back spasm. Eden Hazard is in his recovery work. Neither of them looks to be fit in time for the second leg.
Kyle Walker is back in full training with the group and is in the squad for the second leg following his ankle injury which kept him out for more than two weeks. His England teammate John Stones has traveled with the squad although he won't take to the pitch having played the first 36 minutes of the first leg at Etihad amidst a muscle injury. Joao Cancelo is available again after his suspension in the first leg.
RMA vs MCI Champions League Semi Final Match 2nd leg Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Ederson (8)
DEF: Cancelo (9.5), Militao (8.5), Laporte (9), F Mendy (9)
MID: De Bruyne (9.5), Kroos (9.5), B Silva (9)
FW: Mahrez (9), Benzema (10), Foden (9)
