Real Madrid vs Manchester City

Estadio Santiago Bernabeu is the venue as Real Madrid look to overturn a 4-3 deficit against Manchester City and turn their mouth-watering Champions League semi-final tie around.

Real Madrid will take the field in high spirits after celebrating a record-extending 35th La Liga title with an overwhelming 4-0 home triumph over Espanyol. A lack of consistency at Bernabeu could be a problem, with ‘Los Merengues’ alternating between victories (3) and defeats (2) across their last five competitive home fixtures. Chelsea’s futile triumph at Bernabeu in the return leg of their quarter-final tie marked Madrid’s fourth home defeat to English visitors in major European competitions, with their all-time record in such contests now reading W9, D7, L4. Yet, Madrid’s quarter-final victory against Chelsea made it five aggregate triumphs in seven two-legged knock-out ties versus Premier League sides. Additionally, ‘Los Blancos’ have come from a first-leg deficit to win 24 (60%) of their 40 two-legged knock-out ties in which they lost the first leg away from home.

On the other hand, Manchester City head into proceedings off the back of a 4-0 thrashing of Leeds United in the Premier League, taking their winning streak in all competitions to four matches. City’s ninth consecutive foray into the Champions League knock-outs has yielded back-to-back clean sheets away to Sporting CP (5-0) and Atletico Madrid (0-0) in the two previous knock-out rounds. Indeed, the ‘Cityzens’ have been nothing short of outstanding on the road of late, going undefeated in 82% of their last 22 continental travels (W14, D4, L4). Against this backdrop, Pep Guardiola’s men have won just 50% of their 16 away matches in the Champions League knock-out stages (W8, D2, L6). A draw would suffice here, though, and Man City are unbeaten in their last 14 competitive away games (W11, D3).