Three things to watch as Real Madrid returns to training

Filling the void left by Sergio Ramos

The biggest blow for Real Madrid heading into this crucial match will be the absence of its captain, Sergio Ramos. The leader of the first-team received a red card in the loss in the first leg and will not be available.

Therefore, the center back pairing will feature Raphael Varane and Eder Militao once again. Fans are well aware of what the World Cup winner Varane brings to the table, but there is some lingering doubt regarding Militao starting in such a big match against a talented side.

Against Paris Saint-Germain way back in September, the Brazilian defender looked out of sorts and played probably the worst match of the season in that 3-0 loss in France.

But, Eder’s form recently has improved dramatically since the restart in June and Zidane has taken note by offering the 22-year-old more and more playing time. Varane and Militao have proven they can lock down the backline when playing together, however, the absence of Ramos cannot be overstated.

Sergio’s swagger and on-field leadership is unmatched and that responsibility will now fall on the shoulders of Rafa Varane. The French international is a great leader and it will be up to him and Thibaut Courtois to make sure the back four stays tight and aware of City’s counter-attacking ability and speed.