MX23RW : Wednesday, July 3 02:59:42| >> :120:9987:9987:
[monks data]
Manchester City logo
Champions League | Round of 16
Aug 7, 2020 at 8pm UK
Etihad Stadium
Real Madrid logo

Man City
2 - 1
Real Madrid

Sterling (9'), Jesus (68')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Benzema (28')
Modric (81')

Manchester City to organise warm-up friendly ahead of Real Madrid clash?

Deposed Premier League champions may play a friendly match as they focus on the Champions League.

Manchester City could organise a friendly this weekend to aid preparations for the Champions League visit of Real Madrid.

City host the Spanish champions in the much-delayed second leg of their last-16 tie on August 7.

Following the conclusion of the Premier League, Pep Guardiola's side are without a game until then and director of football Txiki Begiristain is looking at options.

City beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League tie
City beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League tie (Nick Potts/PA)

Begiristain told the club's website, www.mancity.com: "Everyone wants to play in that game, they are training for that and it is good to compete.

"Maybe we could organise a friendly behind closed doors this weekend and that will help to get fit for Real Madrid."

City will carry a 2-1 lead into the rearranged game after a memorable victory at the Bernabeu in February but since then Real have claimed the LaLiga title.

Real have claimed the LaLiga title this season
Real have claimed the LaLiga title this season (Bernat Armangue/AP)

Begiristain said: "They've won the league. They were behind Barcelona and then they could beat them. It makes them a very, very dangerous team.

"That's the competition – but we are also confident. We did a good game there. They will not forget that and don't need to forget that.

"We have to be realistic and try to take the advantage we have got."

Begiristain expects City to make additions to the squad
Begiristain expects City to make additions to the squad (Martin Rickett/PA)

Begiristain expects City's involvement in the revised Champions League – which culminates with the final on August 23 – to delay their entry into what will be a different summer transfer window following the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: "We are working a lot. We have to be ready, always. It could be a strange transfer window because people have to move fast, we have to bring players who can improve our squad but also it means that maybe someone could leave.

"We have the Champions League so we have to wait to move forward. Then we will maybe have less time than ever but we'll have time to make the changes we need to improve this squad."

ID:408136: cacheID:408136:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6941:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City midfielder David Silva pictured on July 18, 2020
Read Next:
Manchester City's greatest midfielders of the Premier League era
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
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!