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Real Madrid: 5 players on Manchester City who could cause trouble

By Kevin Parvizi

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester City at The King Power Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester City at The King Power Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid will face Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night for the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, and here are five players who could give Los Merengues plenty of trouble.

After dropping points in their last two league games against Celta Vigo and Levante, Real Madrid will have a renewed focus heading into Wednesday when they face Pep Guardiola‘s Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu. Losing Eden Hazard for, potentially, the remainder of the 2019-2020 season only increases Los Merengues’ motivation.

Of course, City are plenty motivated to win the Champions League, too. They were recently banned for the next two years of the competition by UEFA, meaning 2019-2020 is their chance to pull off the feat. Guardiola has been desperate to win the title outside FC Barcelona, and last season’s elimination at the hands of Mauricio Pochettino‘s Tottenham has undoubtedly left a sour taste in the former Bayern Munich manager’s mouth.

Real will be the favorites to win on Wednesday, but there isn’t much separating these two world-class sides. Here are five players Los Blancos must watch out for on Wednesday night.

CB Aymeric Laporte

Manchester City’s best center back – and it’s really not even close – Aymeric Laporte’s injury was a huge blow to City’s title hopes. In fact, losing the star defender essentially ruined City, though nothing short of an all-time effort would have allowed Guardiola’s side to match the near-undefeatable Liverpool this season.

Laporte is a tremendous center back whom Real Madrid fans are undoubtedly familiar with from his days in La Liga. The France international is one of the best center backs in the world with the ball at his feet and rarely makes mistakes in defense. Last season, Laporte recorded 1.6 interceptions per game, per WhoScored.com, and he regularly completes 92% of his passes.

His return to health could mean trouble for Real Madrid, and Karim Benzema will need to get back on form.

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