Our prediction for this Champions League match:
There will be fireworks when Manchester City and Real Madrid square off against each other at Etihad Stadium in a highly-anticipated Champions League game. The two European giants played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at “Bernabeu” a week ago and yet another entertaining encounter is on the cards. Pep Guardiola has a full squad to choose from and the Catalan tactician is widely expected to recall Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, and Rodri to the starting XI after the trio was rested in a 5-1 crushing of Luton Town.
Los Blancos, on the other hand, aim to build on a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mallorca. Carlo Ancelotti’s men suffered a heavy 4-0 loss to Man City in their last meeting at Etihad Stadium and seeing that Pep Guardiola’s troops have been raising their form week by week, home win should be considered. All Dani Carvajal, Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, and Rodrigo return to the starting line-up after they were given a rest against los Bermellones. Aurelien Tchouameni serves a one-game ban.
Highlighted Player (Toni Kroos):
Toni Kroos is a Real Madrid midfielder who started playing for Bayern Munich II at senior level. He made 13 appearances for the reserve team and on 31 January, 2009 he joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan. He made his Bayer debut on 28 February, 2009, coming as a substitute in a 1-0 loss to Hannover.
The German midfielder scored ten goals in 43 league appearances with the BayArena outfit and in the summer of 2010 he returned to Bayern Munich. Kroos won three Bundesliga trophies with the mighty Bavarian giants (2007/2008, 2012/2013, 2013/2014) and in 2013 he was part of Bayern Munich’s team that won the Champions League trophy.
In 2014, though, he decided to leave the club and the German superstar joined Real Madrid on a six-year-contract. Kroos won the 2015/2016 Champions League trophy with los Blancos and it has to be noted that he produced a thrilling performance in the title game against Atletico Madrid. In 2014 he clinched the FIFA World Cup trophy with Germany.
Highlighted Team (Man City):
Manchester City are the lest famous of the two major clubs based in Manchester. The club was founded in 1880, but they have been struggling in the English Premier League in the past. Nonetheless, ever since the club was purchased by Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, the Citizens have been playing an important role in the English top flight.
Manchester City won two Premier League trophies under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini (2011/2012 and 2013/2014), but both managers eventually paid the price for some disappointing results. Man City play their home games at the Etihad Stadium and the stadium capacity is 55,097.
Manchester United are regarded as Manchester City’s biggest rivals and the likes of Kun Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Uwe Rosler, Yaya Toure, Sylvain Distin are some of the most remarkable players that played for the Etihad Stadium outfit. Manchester City have won four Premier League titles and five FA Cup trophies and it has to be noted that they made it to the Champions League semis in the 2015/2016 season.