Man City eye revenge against Real Madrid – Champions League talking points

By Sports Desk May 08, 2023

Manchester City travel to the Bernabeu Stadium to face Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some talking points ahead of the game.

Revenge for City

The tie is a rematch of last year’s semi-finals when City left the Bernabeu heartbroken after letting a place in the final slip through their grasp.

City had been leading 1-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate heading into stoppage time when they suddenly capitulated and conceded twice. Real went on to win in extra time.

Pep Guardiola’s men will certainly hope revenge is in the air and they will want to use the fact the home leg comes second this time to their advantage.

Momentum with City in treble chase

City certainly approach the match in form having hit their stride over the last three months.

They are unbeaten in 20 matches – 17 of which they have won – and have a strong chance of winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

Arguably, the Spanish giants are the toughest obstacle left to clear as they look to win the treble.

Copa del Rey joy for Madrid

Real’s form is more difficult to assess. With the LaLiga title seemingly out of reach, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have lost two of their last three league matches, suggesting the wily Italian has been prioritising other fixtures.

Those would be Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Osasuna, which they won 2-1, and the two City encounters over the coming week.

Their triumph at the weekend, secured after two goals from Rodrygo, should certainly have raised confidence levels.

Haaland the missing piece


Erling Haaland has been a sensation for City this season, scoring 51 goals in all competitions and with the high likelihood of more to come.

 After years of near misses in the Champions League, City are hoping the prolific Norwegian is the last piece of the jigsaw as they look to finally land the big prize.

He has revelled in Europe, not least when he fired five past RB Leipzig in the last 16 and then struck in both quarter-final legs against Bayern Munich. All eyes will be on him to see if he can deliver at the Bernabeu.

Bellingham reports


Cynics would suggest there is little coincidence over the timing of recent reports from Spain that the much-coveted Jude Bellingham is set to join Real in the summer.

 The England midfielder is widely expected to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer and Manchester City were reportedly among the interested parties.

Whether the development would actually unsettle an outfit as composed as Guardiola’s City is debatable, but it certainly adds to the pre-match hype.

Related items

  • Guardiola: It is a 'dream come true' to be fighting for Premier League title again Guardiola: It is a 'dream come true' to be fighting for Premier League title again

    Pep Guardiola says it is a "dream come true" to be fighting for the Premier League title once again as his Manchester City side prepare to take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday.

    City head into this weekend in second, one point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand as Liverpool continue to falter. The Gunners play before Guardiola's men on Sunday, travelling to take on fierce rivals Tottenham, and any slip-up could allow City to move top of the table.

    City are on the hunt for a sixth Premier League title in seven seasons, and though Guardiola's men have been in the fight at the summit so often in recent times, the chance to win top-flight silverware again has not lost its appeal.

    "Of course, all the teams in the [title race] are tired," Guardiola told reporters. "It's normal at the end of the season.

    "But at the same time, it's so exciting. Fighting again for the Premier League? It's a dream come true.

    "I could not expect it, honestly. I know always you dream to be there."

    At the other end of the table, Forest are fighting for their Premier League lives, a battle not aided by dubious officiating decisions in the 2-0 defeat at Everton last weekend.

    The controversial loss leaves Forest heading into their tough fixture this weekend just a point above the drop zone with four games to play.

    In his pre-match press conference for the City game, Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was still fuming about the refereeing against the Toffees, saying: "I still can’t quite believe how the decisions went against us.

    "It has a big impact as it eventually means points, it means frustration and disappointment. It feels like it’s always against us."

    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Nottingham Forest – Morgan Gibbs-White

    Gibbs-White has been involved in four goals in his last three Premier League home games (two goals, two assists). Indeed, since Forest's return to the top-flight last season, Gibbs-White has been involved in 19 goals at the City Ground, at least eight more than any other player (eight goals, 11 assists). City will have to keep a watchful eye on the former Wolves man.

    Manchester City – Phil Foden

    It had already been Foden's best league scoring season of his career before the City youth product netted his 15th and 16th Premier League goals of the campaign to help his side to a 4-0 victory at Brighton on Thursday. He has been absolutely crucial for City this term, and he could be the man to help unlock the Forest door this weekend for another huge three points in the title race.

    MATCH PREDICTION – MAN CITY WIN

    City are looking to complete their first league double over Forest since the 1999-00 campaign in the second tier, and their first in the top-flight since 1990-91.

    However, Forest have lost just three of their last 16 top-flight home games against City (10 wins, three draws), going down 2-0 in 1985, 3-1 in 1990 and 2-0 in 1993.

    They have been strong at home of late, too, unbeaten in their last three at the City Ground despite winning just one of their last nine Premier League outings.

    It will have to be an almighty effort to topple City, however, especially considering Forest have kept just one clean sheet in their last 23 Premier League games, with that coming via a 2-0 win over West Ham in February.

    City have lost both of their Premier League games in the Midlands so far this season, going down 2-1 at Wolves and 1-0 at Aston Villa. However, they last lost three consecutive such visits to the Midlands between March and December 2008, and with the title on the line, it is hard to see past them as strong favourites to pick up the three points on Sunday.

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    Forest: 10.8%

    Man City: 69.3%

    Draw: 19.9%

  • Ancelotti salutes Madrid's 'commitment and desire' following Sociedad victory Ancelotti salutes Madrid's 'commitment and desire' following Sociedad victory

    Carlo Ancelotti hailed Real Madrid's commitment and desire as they edged closer to securing the LaLiga title with a 1-0 victory at Real Sociedad.

    Arda Guler scored the only goal as Los Blancos extended their lead to 14 points over second-placed Barcelona, who host Valencia in their game in hand on Monday.

    The 19-year-old was making his first start since arriving from Fenerbahce, as Ancelotti rotated his squad ahead of Madrid's Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.

    And the Italian was pleased by the character demonstrated by his players, who stretched their winning streak to six league matches.

    "It was clear that everyone thought we were coming here for a walk," he told reporters. "The only ones who didn't think so were the players. They had commitment and attitude. They had the desire and enthusiasm to keep winning.

    "We have a spectacular squad. They have this attitude that they feel like they have to win every game. There are four points left to clinch the LaLiga title, and we are very close."

    Guler added on Realmadrid TV: "This is the best club in the world and scoring is one of the best feelings.

    "This is Real Madrid, the quality of the players is incredible. We're all always ready to play, and I think we've shown that here. I'm waiting patiently, and I'm still working hard every day."

    Ancelotti's rotation meant a first start in eight months for Eder Militao, who marked his return from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee with a clean sheet.

    "I've come back to play 90 minutes and I feel like a player again after many months out," the defender said. 

    "We have to keep winning, we know that nothing is won yet. We have a big advantage, but we have to keep doing a serious job until the end."

  • Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid: Los Blancos edge closer to LaLiga title with win Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid: Los Blancos edge closer to LaLiga title with win

    Arda Guler scored in the first half to earn a second-string Real Madrid side a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad on Friday, moving the LaLiga leaders a step closer to a record-extending 36th Spanish title.

    With five games remaining, Madrid climbed to 84 points and extended their lead to 14 points over second-placed Barcelona, who have a game in hand and host Valencia on Monday.

    Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti rested several key players ahead of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, but his side did just enough to secure the three points.

    The winner came from 19-year-old Turkish midfielder Guler, making his first start for Madrid after signing from Fenerbahce, when he turned home Dani Carvajal's cross in the 29th minute.

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.