OVERVIEW:
One of the giants will be eliminated in the round of 16 as two hardcore favorites Manchester City and Real Madrid will lock horns for a place in final 8.
Santiago Bernabeu will host Pep Guardiola’s men in one of the biggest matches of the year. Manchester City is the most feared team in the Champions League after Pep missed out of the Premier League title to Liverpool who have outworked themselves to turn the toughest league of the world in a one team show.
On the other hand, Zidane will be looking to maintain his Champions League streak going and they are also contesting Barca in La Liga as well.
For Manchester City, they have nothing to lose and Pep will do anything to don’t go trophy less this season. These two teams have faced off only four times throughout history, with Los Blancos emerging victorious twice and the other two games ending in a draw.
LINE-UPS
Both teams are wounded by injuries as Madrid’s blockbuster signing Eden Hazard will be out due to hairline fracture and they also don’t have Marco Asensio and Mariano Diaz.
On the other hand, Raheem Sterling and Aymeric Laporte are doubtful to start while Leroy Sane will be absent too.
Madrid will need Karim Benzema to shine but he’ll be needing some support from the midfield who haven’t played upto the expectations. Modric has lost his touch while Kroos and Isco are also not playing upto their capabilities.
While City’s biggest worry will be their defense who has been leaking goals throughout the season but their attack is there to equalize every time their defense concedes. Sergio Aguero will be the man to watch as he’s been scoring goals like a freak.
Conclusion:
City might be able to take a win or a draw from Bernabeu only because of Pep as he’ll be unforgiving to every team which comes in between him and that prestigious Champions League trophy. Hazard is also out and Aguero is scoring goals, as usual so City will be the team to bet on.