Real Madrid v Manchester City: Back goals and cards at 13/2 | OneFootball

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Real Madrid and Man City meet again

Real Madrid meet Manchester City in the Champions League knock out stages again.

Not that I am complaining about two European juggernauts going toe-to-toe on the big stage. This match-up rarely disappoints and historically speaking, there is nothing to split these two.

They've met 15 times in this competition and the record is split 5W 5D 5L, Los Blancos have scored 25 across those matches and City have scored 26.

Scratch the surface a little though and there's actually a lot between these sides.

They've met in five of the last six seasons in the knockout stages and Real Madrid have prevailed four times, including each of the last two seasons.

Allegedly, there was a bit of frustration amongst the Real Madrid camp after drawing the Cityzens for a third successive campaign. Given their dominance in this fixture, I'd have thought the Spaniards would have been happy.

Road to Budapest

It's not an easy route to the final, whoever prevails. The pair are on the Silverpath - I've not made that up, that's on the official UEFA Champions League website.

The winner will play Atalanta or Bayern Munich in the quarters then PSG, Chelsea, Galatasaray, or Liverpool in the semi-finals.

City are the favourites to progress with the Betfair Sportsbook at 19/50 to qualify and 15/2 to lift the trophy.

Pep Guardiola's side have not lost in 11 games, winning nine of those, including their trips to Anfield and St James' Park across that period.

Real Madrid are 9/5 to knock out City and 11/1 to win the competition for a 16th time but they've lost to Osasuna and Getafe in the last three weeks.

In this competition they've won seven of 10 games (3L) and won four of five on their own patch. The only side to beat them at home was Manchester City, something for Pep to draw encouragement from.

Back Vini Jr to make an impact for Real Madrid

You'd be a brave man to try and call this one.

At the prices available, I'd be leaning towards Real Madrid at 9/4, Manchester City are on the drift, but I much rather be on goals.

Since Álvaro Arbeloa took charge on January 12, his side have scored in each of the 13 games he has overseen and only kept four clean sheets.

In the Champions League, only Villarreal failed to score when hosting the Cityzens whose European away trips have seen 4/2/3/4 goals scored.

Eight of the last 11 meetings between these clubs have seen overs and both teams to score click with an average of 3.9 goals a game. At 1.65, the price of that angle is a little short for me so too is the 2.56 about over 3.5 goals with the Exchange.

Not to worry, Vinicius Junior's price to score or assist at 11/10 is worth a poke.

He's had a hand in 21 goals this season in the UCL and La Liga and, without Kylian Mbappe or Jude Bellingham, he'll shoulder the majority of the attacking burden on Wednesday.

Expect fireworks and back Silva for a card

My eyes lit up when I saw who's the referee for this clash.

He's an Italian, who's dished out 84 cards in 21 appearances this term and averaged over 4.3 per game across his Champions League career. Get in.

Maurizio Mariani's already given 5Y and 1R in PSG against Bayern Munich and 8Y when Newcastle lost at Marseille so he can turn it on for the big occasion.

Cards can be hit and miss in the first leg of Champions League knock-out games given the general trepidation.

Last season, there was one no card game at this stage, four which had two or fewer but four with at least four cards, two with six and a couple of reds as well.

It all comes down to the referee, and the one for this clash is a doozy. So, I'll be throwing a couple of arrows at some player cards.

There's usually fireworks when these two square off. Across the last 11 meetings, there's been an average of 3.5 cards a game with five or more dished out in half of the last eight meetings.

Bernardo Silva is the standout price at 2/1.

He is City's most carded player with eight in the Premier League and three in twice as many Champions League appearances.

Silva also has a cynical record in this fixture, picking up a card when the sides met in the group stage, he's also got three in his last four trips to Los Blancos.

Back box office Vini

The bet has clicked three times in his last seven appearances and five times in total this term.