Champions League 2024-25: Manchester City predicted lineup vs Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola has some good news regarding new signing Nico Gonzalez.

Tuesday’s opening leg of the play-off round between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium will rekindle their UEFA Champions League battle for the fourth consecutive campaign.

After the reigning champions Madrid placed 11th and City just made it to 22nd in UEFA’s new 36-team structure, the two European powerhouses will play each other over two legs for a chance to advance to the round of 16.

This will be the fourth European Cup/Champions League meeting to have occurred in four straight seasons. Man City and Real Madrid have faced each other in the previous three Champions League seasons.

Pep Guardiola will hope to avenge their previous defeat of last year. We can expect him to field a strong lineup to take advantage of Real Madrid’s injury-disrupted squad.

Manchester City predicted lineup vs Real Madrid

Guardiola will have a fit squad ahead of the game and he is expected to utilise his best first-team players in the clash despite their opponent’s weak defence which will be without many first-choice players.

The Spanish head coach won’t take risks against a side that always manages to find the way back into the game. However, the key issue for the former Barcelona player seemingly was in midfield. It seemed he would be without his new signing Nico Gonzalez, who suffered an injury in his debut game.

But as things stand the player is back on the training ground. Nevertheless, Guardiola should be able to come up with a balanced squad, lining up a strong roster for this blockbuster game.

Manchester City predicted lineup:

4-2-3-1 formation: Ortega; Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; González, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland

Manchester City injury news

During the first half of Saturday’s FA Cup victory, Man City’s bright new midfielder Nico Gonzalez was forced off hurt after being fouled. He couldn’t continue the game. It was nothing less than a debut nightmare.

Following the game, Guardiola was unable to comment on the severity of the Spaniard’s injury. Although the newcomer is back, the team still has plenty of injury-riddled players: Oscar Bobb (leg), Nathan Ake (muscle), Jeremy Doku (unspecified), and Ederson on the doubtful list, while Rodri (ACL) will be out for some time.

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