On Tuesday 9 May, Manchester City will face Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. Pep Guardiola, City’s manager, has urged his team to use the rematch to prove they can beat the holders and eventually land Europe’s biggest club prize. Last year, City led 5-3 on aggregate in the 90th minute of the second leg, but Madrid remarkably fought back and won the tie. Guardiola has stated that revenge should not be sought, but rather a lesson should be learned from what happened. After a 4-3 victory in the home leg last season, City extended their lead in the Bernabeu when Riyad Mahrez hammered in a 73rd-minute strike. However, two late goals from Madrid substitute Rodrygo and a 95th-minute penalty from Karim Benzema completed an incredible turnaround for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
City are aiming for a Treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, having moved clear of Arsenal in the domestic league and already booked their place against Manchester United in the Wembley final on 3 June. Madrid look almost certain to miss out on the Spanish La Liga title to Barcelona and, having won the Copa del Rey on Saturday, they can now focus on trying to be crowned European champions for the sixth time in the past 10 seasons.
Nathan Ake was missing from the open section of City’s training session on Monday, leaving him a doubt for Tuesday’s match. Veteran midfielder Luka Modric is set to return to Real Madrid’s starting line-up after fully recovering from an unspecified injury. The 37-year-old Croatia international, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, has recovered quicker than initially thought and came on as a late substitute in Saturday’s Copa del Rey final victory against Osasuna.
City’s bid for the Treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League has been spearheaded by the goals of Erling Haaland. The 22-year-old Norway striker, signed from Borussia Dortmund for £51m last summer, has scored 51 goals in 46 games this season, including 12 in eight Champions League matches. Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos referenced the extraordinary comeback when he laughed off former England striker Wayne Rooney’s recent suggestion City would “blow away” the Spanish side in this year’s tie.
Coverage of Tuesday’s match can be listened to on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Manchester, plus text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.