Manchester City and Real Madrid collide in what promises to be a blockbuster Champions League semi-final second-leg clash at The Etihad Stadium this evening, and with the sides locked at 1-1 following last week’s opening salvo in Spain, the tie is hanging in the balance.
Serial winners and defending champions Real Madrid are bidding to reach their sixth final in ten seasons while Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens – who prioritise the continent’s biggest trophy over all else – are aiming to qualify for the competition’s climactic fixture for just the second time in their history.
As per the usual routine, we’ve pieced together a stats pack for this evening’s titanic tussle which is packed with all the bet builder tips you need to crack the markets. Check out our Stats Pack Guide if you need another helping hand – and remember – you can nab up a superb £40 in free bet builder bets when you sign up for a Betfair account today. Click the link to avail of that sweet offer now.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid Predicted Lineups
Ake listed as City’s only concern
Pep Guardiola is working with almost a complete set of players at present and Dutch defender Nathan Ake is listed as City’s only injury concern ahead of this evening’s contest. Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker should continue as a back three, though Guardiola hinted at some possible tactical tweaks in attack during the week, the cast he fields in the final third should have a familiar look.
Will Benzema be available for Real Madrid?
David Alaba, Karim Benzema and Rodrygo all sat out Real Madrid’s meeting with Getafe (1-0) at the weekend, though that trio’s absence was considered precautionary and it would be a surprise if they all weren’t involved in some capacity tonight. Carlo Ancelotti could even field the same XI that performed well in last week’s first-leg. If Eder Militao returns to the Real backline, that could have a knock-on effect on several other positions, however.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid Team Stats
A high City corner count could be in the works
Man City’s ferocious firepower has been evident in both the Premier and Champions League this season where they have been hitting 2.63 and 2.45 goals per 90 respectively, and have rattled the net 52 times in their last 15 home fixtures in all competitions. The free-wheeling Cityzens will expect to do some damage in the final third this evening.
City have been watertight at the back domestically, while no team has conceded fewer goals than Guardiola’s men on the continent so far (five). The Sky Blues also top the pile in the UCL for total corners won (59), just like they do in England and adding the hosts to your Manchester City vs Real Madrid bet builder in the over 5.5 corners could be worth considering at 1.22 today. The Premier League leaders won seven of them in the first leg.
Possible card market opportunity for Real
Real Madrid relinquished their La Liga crown to bitter rivals Barcelona this season, though their underlying stats in the competition have remained strong, with many of their figures at both ends of the pitch a match for City’s from the Premier League.
Los Blancos mustered more attempts (13-10) and won more corners (8-7) than City in last week’s first leg, though they also collected three bookings to their opponent’s two in Spain. Real are on the market at even money to pick up over 2.5 cards again in the return fixture in Manchester.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid Shots and Shots on Target Stats
Haaland and De Bruyne to shine again
Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne have formed a devastatingly effective duo in the final third for City this season and the club’s most productive players for shooting metrics were at it again in Madrid last week, letting loose with three efforts each and missing the target just once between them.
Norwegian superstar Haaland is backable at 1.8 to lodge 2+ shots on target again today, though Kevin De Bruyne is even better value for your Manchester City bet builder at 1.57 in the 1+ attempts on target stakes today. Big-game performer Ilkay Gundogan is another one to consider in the same realm as the Belgian at evens.
Vinicius Junior and Benzema offer excellent value
When he is on song, Vinicius Junior can be close to unplayable. The Brazilian mustered three shots (with one on target) against City in Spain a week ago and the 22-year-old racked up four efforts – including three accurate strikes – on his two previous trips to England to play Premier League outfits this term (Liverpool and Chelsea). Vinicius looks like a Real Madrid bet builder must today at 1.62 in the 1+ shots on target market again.
Karim Benzema meanwhile, who has been hitting 1.66 and 2.50 shots on target per 90 in La Liga and the Champions League this term, also looks like a snip at 1.36 to test Ederson with at least one punt in Manchester later on. Benzema and Vinicius were the only Real players to lodge shots on target in the semi-final first leg.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid Goals and Assists Stats
De Bruyne the consummate big game player
Kevin De Bruyne’s sweetly struck equaliser in Madrid last week was his 15th goal contribution in his last 16 appearances in all competitions for City and the brilliant Belgian seems to have cranked his output up into overdrive. The 31-year-old is usually the man for the big occasions and De Bruyne should turn heads at 4/6 to either score or assist again this evening.
Erling Haaland was too peripheral for his own liking in the first leg touching the ball a game-low 21 times in Madrid, though the Norwegian remains City’s leading marksman in the Champions League (12) and the 22-year-old bagged an incredible eight goals in the Cityzens’ last three UCL home matches. Haaland at 1.67 to score anytime seems generous in the extreme today.
Vinicius is Real’s Champions League specialist this season
Karim Benzema is clear of the chasing pack at Real for La Liga goals this term, though the French veteran has been eclipsed by Vinicius Junior in the Champions League, with the Brazilian winger has notched seven goals and five assists in ten starts in the competition since August.
Vinicius, of course, scored Los Blancos’ opener against Man City in last week’s semi-final first leg, his wicked pace and incredible close control should put him into more goal-getting positions this evening. The 22-year-old looks like a top trump for any Manchester City vs Real Madrid bet builder at 2.5 to either score or assist again.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid Passing Stats
Dias and Rodri could hit at least 90 passes each
Man City hogged 55.6% of the ball in Madrid last week with regular prolific passers Ruben Dias (84), Rodri (81) and Manuel Akanji (77) all ranking well for individual passing figures in the Spanish capital.
That trio should be to the fore again in the second-leg, where City will expect to close in on 60% possession. Dias and Rodri in particular should inch their way towards 90 passes this evening and they can be backed to beat that target at 1.53 and 1.62 respectively.
The price could be right for Camavinga
Real Madrid will expect to see less of the ball than usual this evening, though a counter-attacking approach should suit their pacier players in attack. That game plan should keep their passing figures relatively low, however, so the 70+ and 90+ passes markets should be avoided today for Los Blancos.
That makes finding decent value tough, however, Eduardo Camavinga did play 49 passes in the first-leg which was second only to Toni Kroos (56) in Real’s ranks.
Manchester City Cards and Fouls Stats
Plenty of foul market candidates for City
Rodri avoided a booking last week despite committing three fouls in Madrid and his mastery of the dark arts should be on display again in this evening’s second leg. The 26-year-old is well-priced at 1.73 to rack up at least two fouls, while Bernardo Silva – who also sinned three times in the first leg – is 2.1 in the same bracket.
At the furthest right point of City’s back three, Kyle Walker will be preparing for another ding-dong battle with livewire winger Vinicius Junior. Walker only committed one foul in Spain last week, though he still has Man City bet builder coupon-filling potential at 1.25 to commit at least one again later on.
Vinicius and Camavinga to draw more fouls
Vinicius Junior left Kyle Walker and several other City players dizzy at times last week and the slick South American was fouled three times for his trouble. Vinicius’s duel with Walker should make for superb viewing again in the second leg. In midfield, Toni Kroos (fouled 1.30 times p/90) should be involved in a fracas or two with Rodri, while Eduardo Camavinga – who was fouled a whopping four times last week – will face serial ankle-nipper Bernardo Silva once more.
Match-Ups to watch
Rodri vs Toni Kroos
Kyle Walker vs Vinicius Junior
Bernardo Silva vs Eduardo Camavinga
Real Madrid Cards and Fouls Stats
Carvajal to be Real’s chief tormentor again?
Dani Carvajal has been committing 1.01 fouls per 90 domestically this term, though the Spanish fullback raised the stakes last week during a running battle with Jack Grealish. Carvajal committed three fouls in the first-leg and was lucky not to pick up a booking. The 31-year-old is an option to consider in two markets later on at 1.57 to foul at least twice and 2.6 to receive an overdue card.
Antonio Rudiger used his physical prowess to shackle Erling Haaland in the first leg, though the German’s two-foul haul last week suggests he could be one to watch at 1.44 to foul at least once in the return fixture. Eduardo Camavinga was one of three Real players to commit at least two indiscretions a week ago (alongside Carvajal and Rudiger) and the 20-year-old is 1.62 in the 2+ fouls department today.
Grealish could be targeted again
Jack Grealish was again treated like Hack Grealish last week and the winger was fouled three times in the first leg, mostly by his marker Dani Carvajal, and with scores to settle, I expect that pair to be in each other’s faces again this evening. Erling Haaland was fouled twice in Madrid last week and the Norwegian could be shadowed by Antonio Rudiger again in Manchester. Bernardo Silva’s tussle with Eduardo Camavinga has already been highlighted, though the potential for fouls in both directions there feels high.
Match-Ups to watch
Dani Carvajal vs Jack Grealish
Antonio Rudiger vs Erling Haaland
Eduardo Camavinga vs Bernardo Silva
