MX23RW : Monday, July 1 14:44:30| >> :120:7464:7464:

Preview: Manchester City vs. Real Madrid

Preview: Man City vs. Real Madrid
© PA Photos
Sports Mole previews the Champions League tie between Manchester City and Real Madrid, where nothing but a win will do for Roberto Mancini's men.

Manchester City welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday needing a miracle to progress to the Champions League knockout stages.

The Premier League champions are winless in their opening four group matches and thus need victories from their final two games to have any chance of qualification.

Roberto Mancini may recall Pablo Zabaleta to his starting lineup, having rested the Argentine for the thrashing of Aston Villa on Saturday.

On the opposite side of the City defence, Gael Clichy could miss the match through injury, with Alexander Kolarov likely to deputise.

Mario Balotelli has not been included in City's last two matchday squads but could take a seat on the bench alongside Edin Dzeko, should Mancini choose to partner Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez in attack.

Long-term absentees Gonzalo Higuain and Marcelo are Madrid's only fitness worries after Fabio Coentrao and Alvaro Arbeloa made their injury comebacks this week.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stoppage-time winner in the reverse fixture earlier this season and the Portuguese star will be aiming for more goals when he comes against the club apparently courting his services.

Recent form:

Man City: WWDDWL
Madrid: WWDWWL

Possible lineups:

Man City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Kolarov; Barry, Garcia, Toure; Silva, Aguero, Tevez

Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao; Alonso, Khedira; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema

Sports Mole says: 2-2


ID:55420: cacheID:55420:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4512:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jose Mourinho
Read Next:
Preview: Dortmund vs. Real Madrid
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Monday, July 1
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, July 2
 
8pm
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!