Predicted Starting Line-Up: Real Madrid vs Manchester City (UEFA Champions League Last-16 Play-Off Second-Leg) | OneFootball

Manchester City look to turn around a UEFA Champions League last-16 play-off first-leg deficit against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday evening.

The Sky Blues saw their narrow lead dissolve in the dying minutes of the home leg last week and as a result they will need to pull off a comeback in the Spanish capital to break into the competition’s last-16.

The vibes within the Manchester City camp may be more positive heading into the week however, after thumping Newcastle United over the weekend thanks to stellar performances from new boys Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush in particular.

Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake were left out of the squad for the Premier League showdown with Newcastle, though there were some suspicions that they were merely being rested ahead of the trip to Madrid.

And perhaps those suspicions were proven right as both Dias and Ake trained alongside their Manchester City teammates at the City Football Academy on Tuesday morning prior to the club’s flight over to Madrid.

Jack Grealish was also part of the contingent that was present in front of the media on Tuesday, while Erling Haaland appeared to be moving freely after his knee injury scare during the final moments of the weekend’s 4-0 win over Newcastle.

While Rodri, Oscar Bobb, and Manuel Akanji remain out injured for the foreseeable future, let’s pick through how Pep Guardiola might set his Manchester City side up against Los Blancos on Wednesday night!

Predicted XI

Ederson may have been at fault for one or two of Real Madrid’s late goals at the Etihad Stadium last week, but he remains Manchester City’s best goalkeeper on his day and his abilities on the ball in particular were on full show at the weekend.

After a centre-back heavy back-four worked a treat in the opening hour and more in the first-leg last week, we could see something similar at the Bernabeu. We believe John Stones will likely tag-in at right-back to deal with Vinicius Jr.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake – both of whom were absent on Saturday but returned to training this week – will make up the centre-back pairing, shifting Abdukodir Khusanov to the bench.

That, of course, means Josko Gvardiol will take up his customary spot at left-back amid an ongoing impressive campaign for the Croatian international both defensively and offensively across competitions.

Nico Gonzalez was simply sensational against Newcastle at the weekend, and you can make a likely prediction that he will play in most crucial minutes for Manchester City going forward this season.

Joining the former FC Porto man will be Bernardo Silva, who himself did not feature against the Magpies over the weekend so he should be well-rested and prepared to clock up the mileage across the pitch against Real Madrid.

Rounding out the midfield should be Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian international was also rested over the weekend and has shone in big matches at the Santiago Bernabéu in the past, with Pep Guardiola starting to manage his game time more of late.

Out on the right of Manchester City’s front-three, Phil Foden has himself been prone to stunning showings against Real Madrid over recent seasons, and we believe he will get the chance once again this time around.

Through the middle will be none other than Erling Haaland, who bagged his first goal against Los Blancos in the first-leg as part of a stellar brace and appears to be available despite an injury scare during the final moments of the weekend’s meeting with Newcastle.

Finally, hat-trick hero Omar Marmoush will surely feature out on the left and be another threat in behind for Manchester City. His bravery in attacking phases of play and obvious eye for goal will be needed on a night when Pep Guardiola’s players must score.

Predicted XI: Ederson; Stones, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Nico, Bernardo, De Bruyne; Foden, Haaland, Marmoush.

Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Nunes, Lewis, Khusanov, Gundogan, Kovacic, McAtee, Grealish, Savinho, Doku.