Real Madrid have one foot firmly placed in the quarter-finals of the Champions League following an emphatic 3-0 win over Manchester City last week. The two sides met at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie.
Los Blancos were underdogs ahead of that game, not least because of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo's absences. But Federico Valverde came to the fore, producing a stunning performance and a first-half hat-trick to hand Alvaro Arbeloa's men full advantage.
Tonight (March 17th) they travel to the Etihad and face a wounded City side who are enduring a difficult period. The defeat to Madrid was bad enough but Pep Guardiola's men were then held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham United, leaving their Premier League titles hopes in tatters.
Real Madrid team news
Bellingham and Mbappe have returned to Arbeloa's squad for tonight's game. Their manager will make a decision over starting them or naming them on his bench.
Bellingham has been sidelined since early February with a hamstring injury but is back at a crucial stage of the season. That's also the case for Mbappe, who has been nursing a thigh problem but is reportedly going to be an option should Los Blancos need to turn to him.
Alvaro Carreras is back afer missing the win at the Bernabeu due to a calf problem. Unfortunately, Ferland Mendy sustained a hamstring issue in that game and as a result won't be available.
Neither will Rodrygo, Dani Ceballos and Eder Militao who are also on the sidelines. The good news is that Arbeloa has several players back for one of the most important games of Madrid's season.
Expected XI
Madrid are in a comfortable position ahead of tonight's game and as a result won't be expected to make too many changes to the side that beat City 3-0. But Mendy's injury means Arbeloa will have to replace the Frenchman.
Fran Garcia is likely to be selected at left-back because Carreras has only just returned from injury. The Spaniard put in a positive performance in a 4-1 win over Celta Vigo last weekend.
Vinicius Junior will start in attack alongside Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler. Arbeloa won't risk throwing Bellingham or Mbappe in from the start.
Thiago Pitarch will continue in midfield and it doesn't bode well for Eduardo Camavinga whose future is in doubt. The young Spanish midfielder was impressive in the first leg and should line up alongside Aurelien Tchouameni and Valverde.
Expected XI: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Huijsen, Rudiger, Garcia; Tchouameni, Pitarch, Valverde; Guler, Vinicius, Diaz
Prediction
This is a massive game in both clubs' seasons, and all the pressure is on City trying to replicate one of Madrid's comebacks from their famous 2020-21 campaign. If the Cityzens can bounce back from recent setbacks, it could be a difficult night for Arbeloa's side.
That said, Guardiola's troops were vulnerable against a relegation battling West Ham team. There are evident issues in their team and some of their star players, including Erling Haaland aren't quite at it.
A draw seems the likeliest outcome and it's exactly what Madrid will take heading into the game. Expect another drama-filled affair but Los Blancos to head to the quarter-finals.
Prediction: Man City 2-2 Real Madrid