After eliminating two of the best teams in the competition in PSG and Chelsea, Real Madrid will now have to face the Champions League favorites on the road this Tuesday night in the first leg of the semifinals.
Manchester City are still competing with Liverpool at the top of the table, but Pep Guardiola’s side looks set to win yet another Premier League title. And in the Champions League, they will like their chances of reaching the final for a second straight year, having embarrassed the Merengues a couple of years ago in the Round of 16.
As we saw last season, though, City are not infallible. And as we have seen throughout 2021/22, Real Madrid have that something magical about them.
Here is a prediction for how Los Blancos’ starting XI could look on Tuesday night at the Etihad.
GK Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois is the most obvious start there is. The world-class goalkeeper could be THE decisive player in the tie. He made phenomenal saves in the first legs of both victorious ties against PSG and Chelsea.
LB Ferland Mendy
Though Ferland Mendy is dealing with an injury, he should be able to make his return on Tuesday to face one of the world’s finest right wingers, Riyad Mahrez. Mendy’s ability on the ball will be tested, as Guardiola will try to force him to make good decisions on the ball in his own half and even be an outlet in attack. We will see if he is up to the task after struggling at times in the second leg vs. Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.
CB David Alaba
Another potential injury doubt, David Alaba’s status is even more in question after recently suffering an injury against Osasuna. But my early prediction is that the Austrian center back will be able to play. He is so important to Real Madrid as a leader and is the defender who shows the most consistency. Alaba’s reading of the game and passing are vital to Los Blancos and will be even moreso against the tactical powerhouse that is Manchester City.
CB Eder Militao
Hopefully, Eder Militao got all of the mistakes out of his system in Wednesday night’s win over Osasuna. He has been fantastic this season next to Alaba, and we saw against Chelsea how much he is missed when he is unavailable. Militao will be tested plenty by Guardiola’s press, as he may challenge the Brazilian in the same way he forced Raphael Varane into two horrific mistakes the last time these two elite European clubs faced each other. I have a feeling Militao will be motivated and up to the task.
RB Dani Carvajal
When Real Madrid last went up against Manchester City, Varane received the majority of the criticism, but Dani Carvajal was also at fault for the elimination after a disasterclass of his own in the first leg against substitute Raheem Sterling. And this season, he has been just as culpable against certain wingers, with Kylian Mbappe and Ferran Torres having field days against him. He even struggled at times in the second leg against Chelsea.
But with Fede Valverde providing more defensive solidity than Marco Asensio on the right-hand side, Carvajal has bounced back to an extent. He will be one of Real’s most important players in the semifinal.
CM Toni Kroos
Toni Kroos was visibly frustrated with Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to substitute him in the second leg against Chelsea, but he was, in truth, playing poorly and had to be taken off for Eduardo Camavinga in order to save the tie. Carlo was proven right, in the end.
But for his part, Kroos erased the struggles of that second leg with a magnificent second-half performance at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan the following weekend in a memorable 3-2 comeback win over now-former title rivals Sevilla.
Real Madrid will hope Kroos can control the world-class Manchester City midfield in some way. Tactically, Kroos will be one of Los Blancos’ biggest keys to victory at the Etihad.
DM Casemiro
Casemiro’s status for Tuesday night’s fixture may be in the most doubt among the trio of injured Real Madrid starters. If he cannot start, Real can feel secure in Eduardo Camavinga’s ability, given the high level of his recent performances.
However, there is no replacing Casemiro. His ability to read the game, break-up play, and make fantastic defensive decisions could be the difference in Real Madrid pulling ahead and keeping City at bay. Of course, he is the least secure player on the ball – even moreso than Mendy – and could be the liability that Guardiola exploits the most tactically. A lot hinges on Casemiro in this tie, both in terms of his fitness and his consistency.
CM Luka Modric
There are no concerns about Luka Modric. Along with Karim Benzema and Thibaut Courtois, Modric has been THE difference-maker for Real Madrid in the Champions League. Nobody will forget his marvelous outside-the-boot assist for Rodrygo Goes in the second leg against Chelsea that kept Real’s Champions League hopes alive.
Modric’s defensive coverage, dribbling ability, work in tight spaces, and creativity will be vital in Real Madrid getting off to an ideal start in the tie at the Etihad. The Magician must be at his sparkling best, but we all know these are the stages he shines brightest on. He can add another marquee, big-game performance to his impressive career list by silencing the Etihad and teaching even the tactical mastermind Guardiola a lesson in midfield excellence.
LW Vinicius Jr.
Vinicius Jr. is the X-Factor for Real Madrid. So many times this season, Vini has created a goal from nothing in transition with his never-say-die attitude and his much-improved final ball, both as a scorer and assist-provider. And the assists have been of particular importance for the left winger lately, with his cross against Chelsea being the tie-winning move for Madrid.
Kyle Walker is not an easy matchup at all, and Manchester City will find ways to provide plenty of extra help against Vini, forcing the young forward to be at his very best. Every time he has been challenged in this way, though, Vini Jr. has risen to the occasion. Just ask PSG in that second leg comeback.
CF Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema’s back-to-back hat-tricks to lift Real Madrid will go down in Champions League history has two of the greatest individual performances ever. And in the second leg against Chelsea, it was the head of Benz that, once again, made the difference for the Merengues.
City have an elite center back duo and will certainly have a well-thought-out gameplan to stop Benz, but even the best plans eventually crumble at the feet of the master himself. Benzema is operating on another level in world football, and his Ballon d’Or march could very well include another historically great Champions League performance against the mighty Manchester City.
RW Fede Valverde
Who to pick on the right wing? That will be the main question for Carlo Ancelotti when it comes to setting his lineup this Tuesday, and, unlike the defensive midfield, it will not be based around fitness questions.
Due to their recent performances, Fede Valverde and Rodrygo Goes have shown that they are both equally deserving of starts. Fede has been the more consistent of the two, but Rodrygo has been the most brilliant lately. He was the Man of the Match in the comeback against Sevilla, changing the game upon his introduction at the half with a goal, an assist, and plenty of amazing creative work aside from those goal contributions. And then he was the best player on the pitch again in the following game, a rare start on the left wing at Osasuna.
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So why Fede over Rodrygo if Rodrygo has been so good lately? I think Ancelotti will be more cautious at the Etihad and want the more defensive option in Valverde, who started the last two Champions League matches successfully. Rodrygo can then be used as an impact sub to change the game, which has an added benefit if Real Madrid really need a goal.