The conditions on the biggest day in Manchester City’s European history might not have been bleaker. Torrential rain and 7,968 spectators in Vienna’s Prater Stadium witnessed the Skyblues’ 2-1 win in the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup on April 29, 1970 once morest Gornik Zabrze.
“We started very well and might have done it already,” said City star Phil Foden. “We have to take better advantage of our chances.” Because that didn’t work at Etihad Stadium, the premier class dream might burst once more – as has happened for ten years in a row.
Champions League
Champions League: Real Madrid – Manchester City live on TV, live stream and live ticker
YESTERDAY AT 15:05
The billions invested by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the club’s main shareholder since 2009, were primarily made to conquer the Champions League crown. Against Madrid, the Guardiola selection is clearly favored following the performances of this season.
In fact. Because Real, together with Liverpool FC, is probably the only team that has the necessary tools to bring Manchester City to its knees.
Eurosport.de names the three most important reasons:
1.) Cibeles fountain of youth
Party in Madrid: Real celebrates 35th championship
“It’s a lot of emotion for me,” enthused right winger Rodrygo following the celebration at Cibeles. An experience that should release additional strength for the showdown once morest Manchester City (Wednesday from 9:00 p.m. in the live ticker at Eurosport.de). Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team might not have gained more self-confidence – the Cibeles as a kind of fountain of youth for the royals.
2.) The Benzema Factor
The hymns of praise that have been sung to the attacker for weeks have not stopped. Rightly so. Karim Benzema is the offensive life insurance for Real. The Frenchman has scored in eight of his ten Champions League appearances this season, 14 times in total. Benzema has scored nine goals in the past four knockout games. It was “difficult to find words for what he does – week following week,” said teammate David Alaba. “Especially this season, it’s incredible and we’re really, really happy he’s with us.”
Karim Benzema
Fotocredit: Getty Images
For the second leg, the goalgetter announced that he would deliver “something magical” with the team. It cannot be ruled out that the striker will then take full risks once more. “I have a lot of confidence in myself,” Benzema clarified. This means that strokes of genius like the Panenka penalty are crowned with success.
3.) Manchester’s hidden weakness
Manchester City – Real Madrid: Benzema in a duel with Sinchenko
Fotocredit: Getty Images
All the more surprising was the statement by coach Guardiola, who revealed what was perhaps his players’ only weakness shortly before Christmas. “We’re not good defenders individually,” explained the Spaniard. In fact, it is noticeable that City did not look good on the defensive in individual games. Especially not when the opponent was also looking for possession or managed to create counterattacks. Guardiola counters the problem with a ball-oriented style of play.
“The ball is the only reason why you are stable. When the midfielders gain possession, you are stable behind them and have good chances going forward in the game,” said the 51-year-old. With this, Manchester successfully caches the secret weakness in the defense. Only: Real Madrid also masters this system with its outstanding cast in midfield. The greater the ball possession percentage of the home side in the Bernabéu, the more dangerous it becomes for the city defense.
Modric confident before City duel: “Know what we have to do”
Premier League
Guardiola at Manchester City before contract extension
02/05/2022 AM 07:50
Champions League
Shock before the second leg: Real will probably have to do without Alaba
YESTERDAY AT 09:01