Real Madrid are down in the Champions League Round of 16, but they are certainly not out.
Although Real Madrid played against Manchester City only a few months ago, they look like a completely different team heading into their August fixture against Pep Guardiola’s men.
Whereas City have shown vulnerabilities during the Premier League season, especially defensively, Real Madrid were the best team in Europe after football’s return. They maintained their league-best defense, as Thibaut Courtois won the Zamora Trophy. Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema kicked up their goal-scoring a notch, and Marco Asensio returned with aplomb.
Los Blancos are down 2-1 to Manchester City after imploding late in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, but they were the better side for most of the match until Raheem Sterling entered the fold in the 73rd minute.
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Around that time, Real beat Barcelona 2-0 in El Clasico. But they also lost to Levante and Real Betis, tying relegation candidates Celta Vigo.
In short, Los Blancos were inconsistent, and the jury was still out on them as La Liga champions, even in comparison to the struggling Barça side they handily defeated at the Bernabeu.
Now, though, there are no questions. Real Madrid are a mighty side again, led by a world-class back four and goalkeeper and supported by an all-action midfield that is also Europe’s envy.
And with a healthy Hazard (or Vinicius) and a healthy Asensio flanking Benzema, their attack is finally worth praising.
Getting at least two goals at the Etihad Stadium in a victory won’t be easy. Manchester City are still one of the best teams in Europe and are among a handful of teams with a realistic shot at winning the Champions League. Guardiola has been there, done that.
But Zinedine Zidane has been there, done that three times. He’s been in tough situations like this before, where his team has, as he likes to say, suffered. And after dominating La Liga in the final 11 games of the season with game after game after game on their plate, Real have shown that they are also among the teams with a shot at winning it all – even with a 2-1 deficit.
Real Madrid have suffered so that they can soar. Manchester City are no pushovers, but they are also not a dominant force. With their defensive question marks, two goals, even considering that Real’s weakness is their attack, is not out of the question. It’s achievable.
Anything can happen at the Etihad on Aug. 7 in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16. As Real have shown throughout the 2019-2020 season, underestimating the fight in this team is never wise.