Real Madrid vs Manchester City predictions: Real can edge out City again
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- Real Madrid lead 3-2 from first leg
- Manchester City beat Newcastle 4-0 on Saturday
- Recommended bet: Real Madrid to win and both teams to score
Real Madrid have a 3-2 lead to protect against Manchester City in the Champions League play-offs and Los Blancos should be able to stifle the threat of a comeback from the Premier League team on Wednesday.
Real were heading for a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad last week but scored twice late on to record what should be a crucial away win as the holders look to progress to the last-16.
City responded to their late Real defeat by comfortably overcoming Newcastle at home in the league on Saturday, but it has largely been a season of disappointment for Pep Guardiola and his side and they could be in for more pain in the Spanish capital in midweek.
Team news
Real will still be without the injured Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao for the second leg, while Lucas Vazquez also looks set to miss the midweek showdown.
Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba, meanwhile, both remain major doubts for the hosts.
City will check on star striker Erling Haaland after he suffered a knock against Newcastle, although the hope is that the Norway ace will be fit.
Elsewhere, Manuel Akanji, Oscar Bobb and Rodri continue to be ruled out, but Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias and Jack Grealish should all be available despite recent fitness concerns.
The stats
City have won just three of their last 14 away games in all competitions.
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Real have won eight of their last nine games at the Bernabeu, drawing the other.
This is the fourth season running City and Real have met in the Champions League.
Real won their semi-final tie 6-5 on aggregate in 2022, City then triumphed 5-1 on aggregate in the last four in 2023, while Real came through on penalties in the quarter-finals last season.
Kylian Mbappe has 24 goals in all competitions for Real this season, including four in the Champions League.
Erling Haaland has hit 27 for City this season, with eight of them coming in Europe.
Prediction
City looked to be on course for a vital home win in this blockbuster play-off tie between the last two Champions League winners but familiar defensive problems plagued them late on at the Etihad last week.
They must try to respond in Madrid and Guardiola's side are certainly capable of making it difficult for Los Blancos and getting themselves back into the contest.
An early goal for the visitors would unsettle Real as they look to protect what they have.
However, while City are likely to get on the scoresheet again it may not be enough to see them overturn the tie.
Real have won three of their last four games at home, scoring 15 goals in the process, and City's defensive vulnerabilities this season could strike again in Europe.
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