A season ago, we wouldn’t have thought this way of Manchester City, they were the team that was matched for Real Madrid and almost kept them away from champions league title. Today, it’s a different case entirely. Even when Manchester City was arguably real title contenders in the Champions league, Real Madrid always did find a way to beat them. Now, they are just shadows of it formal self Manchester City, facing the same strong opponent in Real Madrid, there hopes to progress is so little.
The truth is that many are expecting or saying that this game will be very favorable for Madrid, but the truth is that I am not very confident, City is a team that can surprise and that is something that we all know, Pep is surely putting together his team with the best they have and we must not underestimate him just because they have not had good performances in the last few games, however Ancelotti himself said that he does not like facing City, however that is football and we have to accept it.
CONFIRMED lineups: Manchester City vs Real Madrid, 2025 Champions League Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois, Valverde, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy, Camavinga, Ceballos, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius, Mbappe.
Manchester City starting XI (TBC): Ortega. Nunes, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Silva, De Bruyne, Savinho, Foden, Haaland.
Source:
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2025/2/11/24363444/manchester-city-vs-real-madrid-2025-champions-league-live-online-streamAs I have said on many occasions, what I don't like about this formation is that Tchouameni is there and Modric is not starting. I think that these changes have to be made as soon as possible, if Ancelotti wants to secure the game, because City's attacking power is Incredibly strong.
While that might be possible, we know Real Madrid to be a 90 minutes team and until the whistle is gone, Real Madrid with just seconds on the clock can always come back from a 1 goal opposition lead. Real Madrid as it has have gotten their first but, that was likely not going to hold through the first half should Mbappe have taken most of the chances he was presented with. The chance from Rodrygo in the plus minutes of the first half was one that ought to have been converted but, Mbappe skied it, despite having way much time and space.