Wednesday the 4th of Could 2022, the 89th minute of the Champions League Semi Remaining second leg on the Bernabeu. Manchester Metropolis lead Actual Madrid 1 nil on the night time, and 5-3 on combination for the tie.
The tie appears over, Metropolis are by way of to the ultimate in Paris…….then it occurred, one thing that took Metropolis followers in every single place a very long time to totally comprehend what occurred subsequent or how on earth it occurred.
First Rodrygo tapped in on the close to submit within the ninetieth minute to make it 5-4 on combination and arrange a nervy end to the epic tie.
Then lower than a minute later that man struck once more. Rodrygo fired in a bullet header to make it 5 all on combination and 2-1 to Actual on the night time and ship the tie to further time.
A Karim Benzema penalty at the start of additional time put Actual Madrid forward 3-1 on the night time and 6-5 on combination, and forward on combination for the primary time within the tie, a place they’d not relinquish over the ultimate 25 minutes of additional time.
The remainder is historical past as Actual would go on and seize their 14th Champions League title in Paris, and Metropolis must regroup to be again at this stage once more subsequent season.
Now simply over a 12 months later Manchester Metropolis once more are drawn in opposition to Actual Madrid within the Champions League Semi Remaining, and an opportunity to go one higher then a 12 months in the past is introduced to Metropolis.
This tie guarantees to be spectacular, and right here I’ll preview the titanic conflict between arguably the most effective two groups in Europe at the moment, first I’ll take a look at Actual Madrid.
Actual Madrid
Actual Madrid come into this tie sitting third within the La Liga desk after 33 video games performed , 14 factors behind runaway La Liga leaders Barcelona. In La Liga Actual Madrid haven’t been themselves this season, falling properly behind a rampant Barcelona in La Liga.
They do nonetheless come into this recreation recent off Copa Del Rey success beating Osasuna 2-1 within the last. This tie being a Champions League Semi Remaining, I’m anticipating Actual Madrid to deliver their greatest for the enterprise finish of the Champions League as they so typically do, highlighted by the actual fact they’ve gained the competitors 14 occasions, and are the present holders.
Within the Champions League knockout rounds up to now Actual Madrid have disposed of Chelsea 4 nil on combination within the Quarter Remaining, and earlier than {that a} 6-2 combination win over Liverpool within the Spherical of 16.
Madrid come into the Semi Remaining tie in opposition to Manchester Metropolis with no worry of English opposition because the earlier rounds outcomes counsel.
Main into the primary leg of the Semi Remaining tie on the Bernabeu, Actual Madrid will enter the sport with out Eder Militao in defence.
The Brazilian defender having to serve a one match ban for the buildup of yellow playing cards. There are additionally damage clouds hanging over Ferland Mendy, the left again having been out for over a month or so now. However from all latest reviews Modric must be obtainable for the primary leg.
One other key participant lacking from the Semi Remaining conflict a 12 months in the past is Casemiro who has since left Actual Madrid for a sure membership who shall stay anonymous.
I really feel Casemiro not being there to disrupt play within the midfield modifications the dynamic of this 12 months’s Semi Remaining conflict, so I eagerly anticipate seeing if that’s the case.
Actual Madrid nonetheless don’t lack for the choices to switch Casemiro with Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelio Tchouameni, Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde all able to doing the job required for Actual.
Whether or not or not they can in opposition to a rampant and in kind Manchester Metropolis midfield over 180 minutes is a query that shall be answered over the 2 legs of the tie.
Key Gamers for Actual Madrid
I’ve gone with two gamers who will have to be stored quiet within the first leg and over the 2 legs for Metropolis to progress in Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema.
The pair had been electrical within the Semi Remaining conflict final season, and Benzema’s efficiency for all the of final season will dwell lengthy within the reminiscence.
The Frenchman is a deadly marksman with 29 targets this season in 38 appearances and three hat tips in April alone. Metropolis must minimize the availability to Benzema to maintain the specter of him at bay. Benzema remains to be one of many world’s greatest quantity 9’s so retaining him quiet is not any straightforward process.
Vinicius Junior has been nothing wanting electrical this season, persevering with on together with his growth from final season. The Brazilian winger possesses lightning tempo to go together with his wizardry on the ball, he’s additionally a lethal finisher given the possibilities, emphasised by the actual fact he’s Actual Madri’s main scorer on this season’s Champions League marketing campaign thus far with 6 targets in 10 appearances.
I do really feel this can be a tie made for Kyle Walker to start out at proper again, as his tempo matches up properly face to face with Vinicius Junior. If Walker does begin that’s a face to face match up I sit up for seeing, amongst many others over the 2 legs.
Manchester Metropolis
Metropolis come into the Champions League Semi Remaining first leg sitting prime of the Premier League desk on the again of a 2-1 win in opposition to Leeds. Persevering with a spectacular run of 10 consecutive Premier League victories and being unbeaten in 20 video games in all competitions since early February.
To progress to this stage of the competitors Manchester Metropolis dispatched RB Leipzig 8-1 on combination within the Spherical of 16. A well-known 4-1 combination victory over Bayern Munich within the Quarter Remaining secured Metropolis’s place within the Semi Remaining.
It’s that efficiency over two legs in opposition to Bayern Munich that has me feeling quietly assured that Metropolis have grown up on this competitors, and are able to deal with the Madrid check head on.
The resilience proven particularly within the second leg in Munich shall be wanted once more at occasions within the Semi Remaining. This time it appears this Metropolis squad possess the mettle to knuckle down and soak up the punches when required.
Manchester Metropolis come into the primary leg with nearly a full squad to select from. No Metropolis participant is suspended for the primary leg. Metropolis solely have one damage concern with Nathan Ake hobbling off in opposition to Leeds and has subsequently, not travelled to Spain with the squad.
Man Metropolis squad coaching forward of Actual Madrid conflict. Nathan Ake the one participant not concerned.
[via @footballdaily]
— Metropolis Chief (@City_Chief) Could 8, 2023
With Kevin De Bruyne over his damage niggles which brought on him to overlook Metropolis’s clashes with Fulham and West Ham. De Bruyne returned in opposition to Leeds and regarded his ordinary magical self.
De Bruyne’s return is an enormous enhance for Metropolis. The Belgian magician shall be a welcome inclusion, and right here’s hoping he’s at his greatest for the event.
Manchester Metropolis additionally come into this tie and particularly the very important first leg with many key gamers in peak kind. Kevin De Bruyne has been in season greatest type of late, his show in opposition to Arsenal recent within the reminiscence.
Jack Grealish has been nothing wanting magnificent for the reason that World Cup. Bernardo Silva has returned to his greatest in latest months, his workrate and wizardry shall be massively necessary right here. Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias on the again have additionally made Metropolis stable on the again, in order that they’ll be very important right here.
Key Gamers for Manchester Metropolis
Consistent with selecting two key gamers for Actual Madrid, I’ll additionally choose my two key gamers for this tie for Metropolis. I’ve chosen Rodri and Erling Haaland as Metropolis’s two key males on this tie.
Rodri for me is significant on this tie. He’s nearly Manchester Metropolis’s participant of the season, and his capacity to dictate midfield shall be essential to Metropolis’s possibilities to progress to the Remaining.
Rodri is the glue of Metropolis’s midfield, and it’s his grunt work which permits De Bruyne, Gundogan and co to go to work additional up the pitch. Rodri may bob up with an important aim, his cracking aim within the Quarter Remaining first leg on the Etihad in opposition to Bayern is recent within the reminiscence.
Erling Haaland can be massively necessary right here. Metropolis’s Norwegian hitman and his ruthlessness in entrance of aim is one thing Metropolis lacked over the 2 legs final season.
Haaland has scored a exceptional 51 targets in all competitions and a contest main 12 on this 12 months’s Champions League. It does really feel that this event is made for Haaland, and he’s made for it and his mere presence will frighten the Madrid defence because it does each different defence Haaland and Metropolis come up in opposition to.
Additionally I count on at occasions Haaland’s capacity to be the out ball down the pitch shall be an element on this tie. Erling’s capacity to carry up the ball and permit De Bruyne, Grealish, Bernardo, Foden and Mahrez to run off him might be a tactic used when Metropolis face spells of strain from Actual Madrid.
You’d count on at occasions Metropolis shall be beneath strain from Actual in order that’s one other weapon Metropolis possess to maintain a eye out for.
Abstract
Effectively it’s nearly right here. The possibility I’ve personally waited a 12 months for, one other alternative to go face to face with Actual Madrid over two legs. I felt for almost all of final 12 months’s Semi Remaining, Metropolis had been the higher staff, however Actual Madrid mastered the important thing moments to progress.
This event it feels totally different. This Manchester Metropolis aspect feels to me like the most effective Metropolis have had on this competitors. The problem forward in opposition to perennial Champions League winners in Actual Madrid gained’t be a stroll within the park, however you wouldn’t have it another means.
Additionally one other factor that makes this Semi Remaining conflict totally different to final seasons is the primary leg being on the Bernabeu, and the second leg being on the Etihad. Manchester Metropolis at dwelling in Europe are a special beast, so Metropolis getting out of the Bernabeu in a very good place is a should.
So deliver on kick off, I can’t await the tie to start on the Bernabeu. It is going to be an enormous event, and a few luxurious soccer awaits.
