Manchester City has been threatening such an early outing of the Champions League for years.
An unproductive league phase responsible for capitulation was barely recovered by a 3-1 victory against the Brugge club on the last day, with the place of City in the table, by setting up an eliminatory with the holders.
Now, the Pep Guardiola team has to enter the Bernabeu cauldron and win for a chance to make the end of 16. A spectacular defeat 3-2 in last week’s first leg leaves the Cityzens with a mountainous climb on Wednesday , but the task is not impossible against a team from Real Madrid not so intimate.
Here is the starting program that Guardiola could choose the second stage of their play-off in Madrid.
GK: Ederson – After having greatly contributed to the collapse in the first stage of City, Ederson rebounded in a certain style on weekends and should have restored some confidence before the return match.
RB: Rico Lewis – Lewis faced Vini Jr last week, but it will necessarily be a different proposal entirely under the lights of Bernabeu.
CB: John Stones – The Barnsley Beckenbauer will probably not be necessary in the midfield on Wednesday, but it is too important to leave the team completely.
CB: Ruben Dias – DIAS failed Newcastle through the disease, but the defender returned to training before the return match and is expected to return to city XI.
LB: Josko Gvardiol – Gvardiol impressed in the first leg and has a story on this field, marking a beauty in the 3-3 draw in the quarter-final of the Champions League of last year.
CM: Nico Gonzalez – Don’t worry, friends, Nico is here. Everything will be fine.
CM: Bernardo Silva – Bernardo’s dive this season can be attributed to an overuse, but there was a respite for him on weekends. Given Guardiola’s faith in the Portuguese international, it would be a surprise not to see him on Wednesday in the XI.
RW: Savinho – Savinho turned out to have been able to the two flanks since he joined the club, but the performance of a certain Egyptian this weekend means that he will probably have to continue right in Madrid.
AM: Kevin de Bruyne – De Bruyne had his moments at the Bernabeu. He may no longer be a player who can take control of the matches as he did in the Spanish capital five years ago, but the veteran remains an important cog in the great opportunity.
LW: Omar Marmoush – City’s new weapon was completely destructive against Newcastle the last time, and a similar performance in Madrid could well push the side of Guardiola in the last 16.
St: Erling Haaland – Haaland, who scored his first two goals against Madrid last week, was a doubt of injury after drinking on Saturday, but the attacker was spotted during training before the flight of the city for Madrid and is expected to start.
