Manchester City welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium tonight as they look to pull off an incredible comeback
Real Madrid are aiming to consolidate their advantage at the Etihad Stadium tonight
Real Madrid are aiming to consolidate their advantage at the Etihad Stadium tonight(Image: Getty Images/Pick the Team)
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Manchester City are aiming to shock the world tonight when they host Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16. Federico Valverde's first half hat-trick stunned the Blues at the Bernabeu and left City on the verge of exiting the competition.
However, the tie is far from over and Real head coach Alvaro Arbeloa will not be rotating his side, regardless of his team's three-goal advantage. Thibaut Courtois was the hero at the Bernabeu when he stopped Nico O'Reilly's point-blank effort. Had City scored then, there would have been a different complexion to this second leg.
Courtois will start with Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen at centre-back. The defensive duo have formed a solid partnership for Madrid and it would be surprising to see Arbeloa mess with that. At full-back, City can expect the visitors make a couple of changes.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold was replaced in favour of Dani Carvajal at the weekend but considering his performance last week, the former Liverpool man is likely to start at right-back. On the other flank, Alvaro Carreras' return from injury is timely. Ferland Mendy was injured in the first leg, leaving Real short at left-back.
The Manchester United academy graduate is fit enough to fly to the north west for this game so he will likely start ahead of David Alaba, who has also travelled. Valverde followed up his hat-trick against City with a goal against Elche and is the first name on the teamsheet.
Jude Bellingham is fit enough to travel with his teammates but has been out since the beginning of February with a hamstring injury. It would be surprising to see him risked from the start but youngster Thiago Pitarch is likely to drop out to allow Eduardo Camavinga to partner Aurelien Tchouameni in the middle.
Arda Guler's wonder strike on Saturday should mean he keeps his place in the starting line-up but on the left wing. That's so Kylian Mbappe can partner Vinicius Jr in attack.
The Frenchman was pushing hard to play in the first leg but his knee injury meant he had to miss out. Mbappe was not risked against Elche, most likely so he was fit for this game. His inclusion would give City another problem to consider.
Real Madrid predicted XI vs City: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Camavinga, Tchouameni, Guler; Mbappe, Vinicius Jr
Real Madrid's predicted starting line-up to take on Manchester City
Real Madrid's predicted starting line-up to take on Manchester City
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