Manchester City v Real Madrid Tips: Both teams can score in crucial Champions League second leg

Manchester City and Real Madrid will battle it out in a place for the Champions League final on Wednesday night in a match-up that is perfectly poised heading into the second leg.

A 1-1 draw at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu seemed a fair result. City enjoyed plenty of early possession, but it was Madrid who took the lead through a superb Vinicius Junior strike in the 36th minute. Pep Guardiola’s men didn’t respond immediately, but Kevin De Bruyne restored parity midway through the second half. 

It was an absorbing encounter, even though neither team was able to create a huge amount of obvious scoring chances. But there is reason to believe this will be a more open affair, primarily because the winner will be decided on Wednesday. There are no second chances. Expect City and Madrid to throw everything at this match. 

Last season’s game between these sides at the Etihad Stadium will live long in the memory. City raced into a 2-0 lead with 11 minutes on the clock, but Madrid fought their way back into proceedings and escaped with a 4-3 defeat. 

That scoreline felt like an unfair reflection of City’s dominance, but it neatly illustrated Madrid’s canny ability to stay in games even when they are being outplayed. The Blancos seldom panic, and that unflappability will stand them in good stead this week. 

City deserve to be favourites. The 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital suited them more than it did Madrid. Pep Guardiola’s team has a phenomenal recent record in front of their own fans: City have won each of their 15 home games since the turn of the year, beating the likes of Arsenal, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Liverpool along the way.

Were Madrid playing in the Premier League, they too would probably suffer defeat at the Etihad. But this competition brings out the best in the Blancos - they are the masters at rising to the occasion and nothing will faze them on Wednesday. 

After all, this is a side that mounted an astonishing comeback to eliminate City in last season’s semis, before which they stunned Paris Saint-Germain with a similarly unlikely turnaround. Just this year, Madrid went 2-0 down at Anfield before storming back to win 5-2.

But there is no doubt that City has the edge. The presence of Erling Haaland gives them an additional weapon compared to last term and, even if they aren’t playing their best football, their brilliant Norwegian striker can get them out of a hole. 

City will struggle to shut out Madrid at the other end, though. Three of the last four Premier League visitors to the Etihad found the back of the net. Madrid’s front three of Rodrygo, Vinicius and Karim Benzema should get chances here. But that is unlikely to be enough to deny City a place in the final.

Man City v Real Madrid Tips

Manchester City to win and Both teams to score @ 3.3