Real Madrid host Manchester City as the Champions League is back at the Santiago Bernabeu with an old foe in Pep Guardiola awaiting.
Los Blancos have been really solid so far this season until the hiccups in the last two games, where Real Madrid dropped points against bottom half teams, losing their three-point lead over arch rivals Barcelona.
Worse yet, Real lost Eden Hazard to injury at Ciudad de Valencia before the most crucial week of the season.
Real Madrid are again without their talismanic winger and Karim Benzema‘s hot form at the start of the season has also cooled down. Los Merengues face Manchester City followed by Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu, both being must win games and can decide the season.
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Last season Real Madrid’s Champions League dream ended in the Round of 16, and Zinedine Zidane will be hoping to keep his unbeaten record safe in the knockout stages of the competition. Here are my three bold predictions before the game.
Real Madrid win with ease
Most of the Real Madrid fanbase is pretty tensed about the tie due to the last two games and the recent injury to Eden Hazard. Real Madrid failed to take their chances against Levante after creating a lot of chances in the first half.
Levante defended in a low block but still were split open numerous times by Isco and Eden Hazard. However, Real failed to convert their chances and were missing a central presence in the opposition box.
Manchester City play a much more open style of football and will allow much more clear cut opportunities for the hosts than they got against Levante. Ferland Mendy will start over Marcelo which will automatically solidify the defence as well.
Zinedine Zidane always has something up his sleeve for big games and has a good record of coming out on top in them and I expect nothing less on Wednesday night from Los Blancos.
Karim Benzema finds his scoring boots
Karim Benzema has been under criticism of media and the Madrid fans for his below par displays in the past few games and Madrid’s inability to convert their chances has been blamed on the French striker. He will surely start against Manchester City, and fans should totally expect him to turn up big as he usually does during the big Champions League nights.
Benzema has been off form since coming back from his injury but as usual has been good with his linkup play. The veteran striker has been making good runs off the ball as well, and it’s just a matter of time he starts finding the net again. Benzema can cause a lot of problems for the Manchester City defense with his slick dribbling and amazing linkup play with Vinicius Junior down the left.
The duo created havoc last season and have done pretty well each time they’ve played with each other so far. I expect Vinicius to burn the City high line and created some pretty good chances for his teammates.
Gareth Bale starts in a 4-3-3
Gareth Bale has been under constant criticism since joining the Spanish club and has been at odds with media and the fans due to his price tag and performances on the pitch. He has been below par this season despite a good start but Zidane has time again showed confidence in the Welshman and I expect him to start on Wednesday night.
With Eden Hazard out for a few months Gareth Bale and Vinicius Jr are most likely to start against City. Zidane knows City’s strength lies in their flanks and he will like to counter that with a 4-3-3 formation putting in two wingers to help out the wing backs time and again.
Bale is perfect for that role and has a great work rate. He has done well defensively in helping out Dani Carvajal time and again. Real Madrid will most likely find themselves sitting back at times and will get numerous opportunities to launch counter attacks, City have struggled at defending those.
The Wales international will be a perfect candidate to run at those back peddling defenders and making runs off the ball to get onto the end of a counter attack. I expect Bale to play a big role on Wednesday at the Bernabeu despite all the noise about him from media and fans.